Anyone have ROBOTIC SURGERY for prostate cancer?

cds9557 · New User Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 2

If my husband's biopsy comes back positive, we are considering Robotic nerve sparing surgery. We have some questions about sexual function that we have not seen answered on the web and our doctor is not familiar with this procedure (can anyone recommend a doctor for this type of surgery?)
If you have had this type of Robotic Surgery, how soon did your full sexual function return (or did it?) How about urinary function?
Thank you so much for your help!

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

I am not familiar with the outcomes of this procedure, but I understand Mayo Clinic has Urologists that are doing it. Maybe you could try to reach them.

regards,
Leo
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Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

chris · New User Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 4

My husband had this procedure last July, they told us 70% would be continent in three months, that did not happen. Our son was married in Sept 2004 and my husband was in diapers. That is the most embarassing thing that he did not expect. That has improved, only a small leakage during the day now. As far as sexual function it has not returned, there is muse (a medicine) that is injected and along with oral medication it is suppose to work, but you have to keep trying different meds and doses, the doctor now says he will be functional in one year. He has been depressed about this and does not seem to want to keep trying when things fail, on top of this I just had a double mastectomy which hasn't helped. But everyone is different we have friends who didn't have any problems with continence but sexual function is slow to return. Search the web, but as we look at this it was a cure, because he is only 57, the other forms of treatments most doctors said would only last for about 10 years and once you chose the radiation or seeds you could not have the prostrate removed after having those treaments, if the cancer returned. There is a doctor in Florida who claims you do not lose sexual function, but it's surprising how many of our friends have been diagnosed with prostrate cancer, and the robotic procedure really cut down the healing time, really not much scarring, just a few spots (holes) on the stomach. Good luck and as our doctor says it will return and there are many things available, so when we go for his one year checkup we will persue the other options.

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Dear Chris

Thanks for sharing your husband's experience with this. I know it will be useful for many readers and participants of this forum.

thanks !
Leo
_________________
Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

andyh · New User Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 5

I had a robotic procedure in May, and I'm still waiting on continence and sexual function. Every other aspect of the surgery went extremely well and that made me, perhaps overly, optimistic. But I'm still in the averages so far.

Ric · New User Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 2

I have a scar from the navel and down about 5-6 inches. Unless I modelled swimwear for a living (which I don't), I can't think of a real good reason to wish for a smaller scar, considering the added cost and the technical difficulty of doing it the robotic way.

Interestingly, I found a website that has a video of a complete robotic prostate surgery, and also the traditional method. Fascinating to watch. It seems the robotic method has less blood loss, and is much "cleaner", and probably less painful afterward. Also shorter recovery period. The technology is amazing!

The traditional method seems to me to be easier to expose the nerves of interest (assuming that a nerve-sparing procedure is indicated). Much more room to work, easier to visualize the surgical context, to delineate some of the anatomical features, easier to palpate any unexpected lumps or masses, and generally better outcome.

There are arguments both ways, involving cost, convalescence, continence, erectile nerve function, and of most importance complete removal of cancerous tissue. Given a choice, I think I would still opt for the old-fashioned way, with plenty of room to maneuver.

By the way, after 11 years post op, I can hardly find the scar, and NOBODY has even mentioned it or seemed to notice. And it wouldn't bother me if they did.
_________________
Ric

Buckeye02 · New User Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 4

I have a much more optimistic view of robotic surgery than these other posts. I am 53 and have had some chronic health issues. I had robotic surgery at the end of September. I was walking the same day, went home the following day, had the catheter removed on the sixth day, and returned to work after two weeks. By the fifth week, I was pursuing a heavy travel schedule in connection with work. I have experienced almost no urinary incontinence (only a drop or two on rare occasions). I am still waiting for sexual function to return, but it is early. My doctor has me involved in an aggressive protocol to preserve penis length and recover erectile function as soon as possible. The protocol involves daily exercises with a vacuum pump and 50 mg. of Viagra three times weekly. I'm hoping for results soon. I can sense improvement after following this regimen for a month.

It is important to assess the skill of the surgeon who will perform the robotic surgery. Many surgeons are just starting out with this technique. I was fortunate to have a surgeon who had already performed more than 800 robotic prostatectomies.

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