What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate gland is a central part of the male reproductive system located just beneath the bladder. It is of walnut size in the adult men. This gland contains the cells which make some of the semen. Semen protects and nourishes the sperms. This gland is located near the urethra – from where urine passes. So if gland keeps on growing as men gets older, this gland pushes the urethra and hence man faces difficulty to urinate. This causes the BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). BPH lead to Prostate Cancer but it is not the cancer, but if the gland cells starts developing rapidly & abnormally, then it results in to prostatectomy cancer.
Some of common Symptoms of the Prostate Cancer Treatment are as follows:
Frequent urination, especially at night
Inability to urinate
Trouble starting or holding back urination
A weak or interrupted flow of urine
Painful or burning urination and ejaculation
Blood in the urine or semen
Frequent pain in the lower back, hips or upper thighs
Prostate Cancer Treatment:
Though, this is the common cancer found in men, but curable as well. It can be cured by-
Robotic High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
Early stage of localized cancer can be cured through HIFU. This technique uses high-energy sound waves to destroy prostate cancer cells. Patients, who did not get cured from radiation therapy, can also be benefitted through this therapy.
Radical Prostatectomy (Open Surgery)
Here the prostate gland is surgically removed through a large scare made either in abdomen or cut made between scrotum and back passage. Patient is operated with the large scare in the body.
Side effects to this operation could be problems in passing the urine, impotence, infertility etc.
Open surgery causes heavy blood loss and it takes long time to get recovered.
Laparoscopic Surgery
It does not require very large scars as compared to open surgery. Surgeon makes 4-5 small cuts of about 1cm in abdomen. He uses special tools for the surgery. Through one hole, surgeon passes a small camera. He can view the magnified view on the TV screen and can operate easily.
Advantage is comparatively less blood loss, quicker recovery and few chances of other side effects.
Robotic Surgery
Most advanced technology for prostatectomy, which has some added advantage over open and laparoscopic surgery.
It is an advancement of laparoscopic surgery. Similar to the laparoscopy, here also surgeon makes 4-5 small cuts of around 10 mm each. He operates robot by sitting at one end. Multiple robotic arms – which acts as individual instruments as in laparoscopic surgery – make the task easier for surgeon. He controls them by sitting at one control panel. Here higher accuracy is achieved because of better control, high definition 3D vision, and 360 degree movement of robotic hands.
Advantage is very less blood loss, fewer complications, less scarring, shorter hospital stay, faster return to normal daily activities etc. c.