Useful Tips for Oncologists While Performing Prostate Cancer Surgery

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in men, but it can be treated effectively if detected early. Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these. 

If you are planning to proceed with prostate surgery, then the first thing that you should know is that it is a complex surgical procedure that requires a lot of precision and expertise. Before heading with the tips for oncologists, let us take a look at what prostate cancer is and its symptoms.

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate gland, a gland that surrounds the urethra in men. In prostate cancer, cells in the prostate gland grow uncontrollably. 

The main signs of prostate cancer are difficulty in starting a stream of urine and pain in the lower back, hips, and/or pelvis. Due to this, some men may feel a little uncomfortable holding urine for a very long time.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

The common symptoms of prostate cancer are: 

• Abnormal urination, such as urinary dribbling, slow urination, and weak urine stream
• Awareness of frequent and urgent need to urinate
• Physical discomfort during urination
• Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or thighs
• Bone pain
• Weakness in the lower leg muscles

It’s important to consult a doctor if you think you are experiencing any of these symptoms.

Tips for Oncologists

For successful prostate cancer surgery, an oncologist must know the following tips: 

Also Read: 5 MAJOR CAUSES OF PROSTATE CANCER

Identify the Cancerous Tissue and Remove It Without Affecting the Healthy Tissue

The most important part of treating cancer tumours is to remove tumours without causing damage to the healthy tissue around them. A skilled oncologist will have experience in identifying tumours and will be able to remove them quickly and effectively. 

With tumours growing so quickly, it is necessary to identify them as soon as possible and remove them from the body by using the appropriate medical tools to perform the surgery.

Know the Patient’s Medical History

While medical advancements have made it possible to perform various surgical procedures with high success rates and low complication rates, there is no substitute for the experience and skill of a competent medical professional. The key to a successful prostate surgical operation is to know all variables involved. 

Before scheduling a surgery, the patient’s medical history is something to take into consideration, so oncologists need to carefully gather all of the information they can on the patient before the surgery. 

Conducting the surgery is part of the process, but making sure the patient’s physiological needs are met is a large part of the overall success of the surgery. Understanding pathologies and medical complications significantly decrease the difficulty to carry out an operation.

Use an MRI to Perform Smooth Surgery

One of the main ways an intraoperative MRI can benefit a surgery is by helping the surgeon see the tumour more clearly and know exactly how to remove it. This helps the surgery go smoothly and ensures that the patient’s body is healthy afterward. Using MRI machines can also help prevent complications. 

This helps the patients recover faster. The patient will be monitored by a team of doctors and nurses that can see the MRI images from a separate room. The MRI will keep the patient from moving, which will increase the accuracy of the results. 

Also Read: HORMONE THERAPY FOR PROSTATE CANCER: IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

Avoid Any Nerve Damage to Make Sure That the Patient Can Function Normally After the Surgery

When performing prostate cancer surgery, the oncologist should remember that he is performing a delicate operation. The nerves in the prostate gland can easily get damaged. The oncologist should make sure that the incision is small and he should use the smallest instrument possible to avoid damaging any nerve. The patient must be able to function normally after the surgery. 

While keeping these tips in mind, oncologists must also keep patients well informed so that they can make the best decisions for themselves. These tips can help them learn more about what prostate cancer is, its symptoms and to make the best decisions. With this, the oncologists perform better and help their patients when they need to undergo prostate cancer surgery.