Open Surgery verses Robotic

hopeful and optimistic said:

Attended a lecture by a robotic surgeon, apparently
there was a study of about 30.000 men who had a robotic or open prostectomy
complications
general cancer in prostate positive margins

robotic 6.6 10.3
open 10.3 18.3

anyway positive margins are significantly higher for those getting open.

Ira

From what I have read from
From what I have read from University studies is that Robotics is “marketed” to appears a better process but the reality of recent studies shows that robotics patience have a 30% higher rate of positive margins…At the end of the day it is the experience of surgeon for the better outcome… I would be wary of a “lecture” providing “neutral” facts of something that they are “selling”…To each their own but again it is the experience and success of the doctor that helps in the final outcome plus a degree of luck to be realistic… That is my 2 cents

Swingshiftworker said:

Robotic not as GOOD as Open Surgery?
FWIW, I don't believe ANYONE should resort to surgery of any kind for prostate cancer unless his life depends on it, because the risk of ED, incontinence and surgical complications are too great given the availability of other less draconian radiation alternatives.

However, if you are going to choose to do surgery, there is evidence that robotic surgery presents greater risks than open surgery.

See: http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.5528483/k.8268/Impotence_Incontinence_Risk_Casts_Doubt_on_HighTech_Prostate_Surgery.htm.

Why? It seems it's mainly due to the INEXPERIENCE of the surgeons using robotic surgery for prostate cancer. As the article suggests, anyone with less than 150 surgeries is just "experimenting" on the patient. So, if you do choose robotic surgery for your cancer make sure that the surgeon has as many surgeries as possible (preferably in the THOUSANDS) before you choose him (or her) to cut you open to take out your prostate.

Best wishes and good luck!

Swing shift
Please respond back and tell me how you can tell, as you say, "if ones life depends on it" I would like to know how you determine that, What exactly is your criteria for determining that?

Randy in Indy

Swingshiftworker said:

If My Life Depends On It
For me, "if my life depends on it," means an intermediate or advanced stage of prostate cancer (Gleason 4,3 and Stage T2 or higher) likely to metastasize and extend beyond the prostate or that has already extended beyond the prostate, which requires immediate removal to prevent further advance of the cancer to the rest of the body.

I'm at Gleason 3,3 and Stage T1c and only 1 out of 10 cores w/only 0.6 mm involved, the lowest level, which gives me all kinds of options that I plan to explore and use before even considering surgery. However, if the cancer advances unexpectedly and "if my life depends on it" I will resort to surgery and hope for the best, despite my knowledge of the substantial risks associated with it.

I know that you do not share my concern over the risks because of your fortunate results, but I may not be that lucky and don't want to subject myself to the risk of such misfortune unless ABSOLUTELY necessary and that means unless "my life depends on it."

Ciao!

Ok...that makes sense
HOwever...if you read my stats...I was a gleason 3+3 in all three of the right side samples of 8 samples...my prostate was small...only took 8. Involvement was only 20% 10% amd 10% But then wait...after it was removed..wham...turned out to be:

1. In both sides
2. less than 1mm from breaking through the outer capsle
3. Grading changed to all 3+4=7
Primary Pattern 3, 80%
Secondary Pattern 4, 18%
Tertiary Pattern 5, 2%
4. Plus

Tumor Quantitation:
Greatest Dimension, Largest tumor focus: 19 mm
Additional Dimension 18 x 15 mm
Location, largest tumor focus: Right posterior quadrant
Multifocality: Yes
Greatest dimension second largest focus 10 mm
Location: second largest focus: Left Posterior quadrant
Extraprostatic extension: Yes

So.... do you Really KNOW difinitively what your cancer is staged at....? After all the reasearch I have done...I would say ...YOU CANNOT KNOW...becaues ...an undisputable fact remains the biopsy results usually are much less than the reality.

I do so wish you the best of luck in getting a cure..but please do not feel what the docs have told you from a biopsy and or other tests MRI Coil etc ...are exactly what you have. Just another reason to remove the problem...then you have (a more definitive) analysis of the tissue.