MY RELATIONSHIP TO DA VINCI SURGERY: Patient

MY CONDITION: Prostate Cancer

TYPE OF PROCEDURE I HAD: da Vinci Radical prostatectomy

MY SURGEON: Dr. William Ellis

HOSPITAL WHERE MY PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED: University of Washington Medical Center

THE BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAD ABOUT TREATMENT:
Cancer removal; possibility of incontinence; possibility of sexual impotence

WHY I CHOSE DA VINCI SURGERY:
Recommended by my surgeon, and well-researched by me.

HOW LONG I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL:
2 nights

MY PAIN AND/OR DISCOMFORT LEVEL:
Yes; significant gas problems and urinary bladder spasms.

ABOUT MY RECOVERY TIME:
Full recovery = 2 1/2 months

WHEN I RETURNED TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES:
One month

ABOUT MY SURGEON AND/OR FACILITY STAFF:
Nursing staff was less than stellar. I believe their patient load was too high.

HOW DA VINCI SURGERY COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES OR PRECONCEPTIONS OF SURGERY:
Didn't meet my expectations, but would recommend this doctor and hospital

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

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer following a third year of elevated PSA levels. The biopsy showed cancer in 2 of 12 core samples. Confirmation of cancer occurred on 8/25/06, with da Vinci surgery occurring on 10/16/06. My staging was T1C with a Gleason score of 3 + 3 (6). I am 59 years old, at this time, and work as a Battalion Chief in the Seattle Fire Department. I'm married with 4 grown children.

My personal physician chose to augment my testosterone levels, beginning 2-3 years prior to my prostate cancer diagnosis. This was not a good decision. Once the prostate was removed, pathology determined that the cancer was most likely 5 years old. This means that I was "fueling" my prostate cancer by the introduction of testosterone into my body. Thus, I've been told that I have a 15% chance of the prostate cancer returning. I no longer see this personal physician.

After a prostatectomy, it is common for the medical professionals to leave the patient's urinary catheter in-place for 10 days. After removal of my catheter, I experienced horrendous abdominal pain subsequent to my first post-removal urination. I experienced 3 episodes before seeking emergency room treatment, each lasting approximately 20 minutes, following additional urination. At the emergency room, it took 4 tries to re-insert a new urinary catheter. This was due to the fact that my urinary bladder had shifted, due to spasms, and the bladder sphincter opening was not a "straight shot in". The pain was caused by urine entering my stomach lining (peritoneum). This occurred because the re-connection, post-surgery, of my urethra and my bladder opening had not healed. The bladder spasms I experienced, post-surgery, were the likely culprits.

Note: When the medical folks removed my catheter on the 10th day following surgery, they could have administered a cystogram, which is a dye test to determine if there is any possibility of urinary leakage. I was subsequently informed by my surgeon that UWMC's practices would change, and that they would use the cystogram in cases where bladder spasms occur post-prostatectomy.

The da Vinci robotic procedure for prostate removal, in this man's opinion, is the only way to go, in instances where a prostatectomy is chosen. By the way, I would recommend that patients discuss the matter of "artery-sparing" procedures associated with a radical prostatectomy. Recent information has surfaced that not only should nerve-sparing procedures be stressed, when applicable, but also arterial-sparing measures should be stressed. Both measures are associated with maintaining and/or recovering erectile function in the post-prostatectomy patient.