Laparoscopic Surgery as Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Pedro Banda, M.D., Urologist and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Columbia St. Mary's

Posted: May 1, 2007

Surgery is still considered to be the best practice in treating prostate cancer. Of the three types of surgery currently being used – laparascopy, traditional open surgery and robotic surgery – laparascopy may offer some advantages over the other two forms of surgery.

Laparoscopy is minimally invasive surgery which consists of making four small incisions, one-half to one centimeter in length, to complete the process. Traditional open surgery requires an incision that is about eight centimeters long, and robotic surgery uses six, one-centimeter long incisions.

At this time, only a few surgeons in the state can perform laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Other possible treatments
Depending on a man’s age or stage of the cancer, other treatments might be used. These treatments include hormone therapy, or androgen suppression, to starve the cancer. External radiation therapy involves a machine directing radiation toward the prostate. Brachytherapy, seed-implant, is a form of radiation therapy in which the cancer is burned out from the inside using individual seeds. Cryotherapy – freezing the prostate to control the cancer – is also available.

Results
The cancer cure rate of laparoscopy is equal to the traditional surgical method, and a man’s quality of life is excellent both in terms of continence and potency. Patients tend to recoup their erectile ability and continence faster. The patient experiences less post-op pain, a shorter hospital stay, and can return to normal activity in half the time that conventional surgery would allow.

Prostate cancer risk factors
Among men over 40, one in six African American men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime, and one in ten white and Latino men will develop the disease. Screening is critical and results in improved survival. If prostate cancer is detected early, when it's still confined to the prostate gland, a man has a better chance of successful treatment with minimal side effects.

Prostate cancer has a significant hereditary component. Those with just one close male relative with the disease double their chances of also developing it. Two or more relatives with prostate cancer increase a man’s chances of developing the disease up to ten times.

Prostate cancer generally grows slowly, and most men are never aware that they have prostate cancer until other health areas become affected. Yet it is at this early stage that treatments have the best chance of success. That’s why it’s so important that ALL men over age 50 be screened yearly for prostate cancer. Screening involves a simple blood test and a rectal exam.


Pedro Banda, M.D.
Urologist and Laparoscopic Surgeon
Columbia St. Mary's
414-326-1745

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