Reflections from Crumbly Acres: The process of cancer treatment: Part IX: Robotic Surgery Prostatectomy

Robotic Surgery for Genitourinary Cancers

This minimally invasive surgery, using robotic surgery, is used to treat prostate cancer and other urologic cancers.

Before the actual surgery, the nurse holds an information session to explain what to expect, how to prepare, and how I, as caregiver, can manage my husband's recovery. We're still waiting to get a date for surgery.

Hubby is to report for surgery at 7 a.m. on the day, staying over night, and home by 5 p.m. the next day. With a 90 minute trip home, in the dark, in, perhaps snow, we might be looking at a two-night stay in the Rotel - The Ottawa Hospital.

It is expensive equipment, and they paid for it through private donations. They have done about
600 surgeries. The surgical arms perform minute surgery, with the surgeon directing it from a console. Our guy was quite enthusiastic when he showed us what goes on. With magnified vision on the machine, he uses a joystick to control the surgical arms, which include 'wrists' capable of excellent control.

YouTube videos abound

Recovery is faster with less invasive surgery, which is an important facet of treatment. While many complain about early discharge, the sooner you get up and get going, the better your recovery. This has been proven with research. For those in hospital for a long stay, there are measures you can take, especially if you end up with infection. Staying in bed is not good for body or soul.

The news featured a story about the new robot!

Ottawa couple makes $1-million donation to a robotics surgery program at the Ottawa Hospital -Ottawa Citizen

Ottawa Hospital

On Dec. 18, Tremblay and his wife, Dorothy, will be honoured by the Ottawa Hospital for their million-dollar donation to the hospital’s da Vinci surgical system. It’s the same robotic surgery system that performed the operation that saved Charles’s life after he was diagnosed with highly aggressive prostate cancer at age 56 in January 2012.

In this video (below), Sunnybrook hospital (Toronto) doctor surgical oncologist Dr. Robert Nam, explains what you can expect before, after, and during radical prostatectomy surgery.
It is a one to two-night stay, with a catheter for 1 - 2 weeks, and while there are side effects, it is better than the alternative. If the biopsy on the prostate indicates that it has spread, follow-up treatment can include radiation, hormone and/or chemotherapy.