MY RELATIONSHIP TO DA VINCI SURGERY: Patient

MY CONDITION: Prostate Cancer

TYPE OF PROCEDURE I HAD: da Vinci Radical prostatectomy

DATE OF PROCEDURE: Dec 18, 2006

MY SURGEON: Dr. David Emmott

HOSPITAL WHERE MY PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED: Shawnee Mission Medical Center

OTHER TREATMENTS I CONSIDERED BEFORE DA VINCI SURGERY:
Radiation

THE BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAD ABOUT TREATMENT:
Recovery time

WHY I CHOSE DA VINCI SURGERY:
Recommended by several friends

HOW LONG I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL:
One night

MY PAIN AND/OR DISCOMFORT LEVEL:
There was absolutely no pain afterward.

ABOUT MY RECOVERY TIME:
One week (when catheter was removed)

WHEN I RETURNED TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES:
Two weeks

ABOUT MY SURGEON AND/OR FACILITY STAFF:
Excellent

HOW DA VINCI SURGERY COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES OR PRECONCEPTIONS OF SURGERY:
Better than expected

I WOULD RECOMMEND DA VINCI SURGERY TO MY FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS!

My PSA rose from 4.0 to 5.2 with negative DRE. Biopsy showed cancer in both lobes with a Gleason score of 7. This was in September of 2006. After talking with several men who had been treated for prostate cancer, I decided that da Vinci robotic surgery was the best for me. I chose to go Kansas City to have this done, because I didn't feel that anyone in Oklahoma City was experienced enough at that time to perform the procedure. I know Dr Emmott's brother, and he told me that David had performed over 300 robotic surgeries. I made and appointment and we drove to Kansas City and met with Dr Emmott. He explained the procedure and we scheduled my surgery for December 18, 2006. Again we drove to Kansas City on Saturday prior to my appointment. Sunday I took my liquid enema medication. Monday morning we went to the hospital at 5:30 and my surgery was performed at 7:30. The surgery took about 2 and a half hours and eventually I was taken to my room. There was absolutely no pain afterward. I was given some anti-inflammatory medication and was able to eat a liquid diet for dinner. That evening, the nurses got me up and helped me walk around a little bit. Tuesday morning I walked around a lot more and was able to shower. Tuesday afternoon about 4:30 I was able to check out of the hospital and go to a motel to spend the night. Wednesday morning my wife drove me home. I reclined in the passenger seat and the trip went well. I rested at home the next few days. December 25th, we drove to Tulsa for Christmas. I carried my catheter bag with me in a Walmart sack. The next day I had my catheter taken out. Without doubt, the catheter was the worst part of my treatment. My urologist in Oklahoma City took over my follow up care. My 1st PSA was done 3 months later. It was .01. During the next 9 months it had risen to .12. We retested again in 3 months and it was still .12. My urologist performed a biopsy and found that one of my seminal vesicles in fact had cancer. Dr. Emmott had told me that he had done his best to remove all of my seminal vesicles, but he had difficulty because of their adherance to my bladder. Normally all of the seminal vesicle tissue is removed. He tried to do nerve sparing and all the while not damage my bladder or rectum. I scheduled Tomo Radiation treament with Dr John Taylor here in Oklahoma City. I had 44 treatments (5 per week) from April to June in 2008. In October, 2008, and January, 2009, my PSA was .01 again. I feel that I am on my way to being cured. I highly recommend da Vinci surgery even though I had the Seminal vesicle problem. I am an UsToo Advocate and promote prostate cancer awareness. I talk freely about my experience and would be glad to communicate with anyone about prostate cancer.