Category: Prostate Cancer

  • Previous Laparoscopic Hernia Repair with mesh in prostate cancer patients

    This past month 2 patients of mine with prior laparoscopic hernia repairs with mesh had successful dvPs. I have done several of these now and do not get overly concerned with this finding in a patient. One of the patient’s was from Florida and was advised against robotic prostatectomy from 2 urologists that performed robotics…

  • Does radiation therapy for prostate cancer lead to rectal cancer?

    In contrast to a study from the University of Minnesota, there is a Canadian study that concludes that there is not a increased risk of rectal cancer when adjusted for age.

  • Family history in prostate cancer

    There is an article from physicians at the Cleveland clinic in the journal of clinical oncology: Aggressiveness of Familial Prostate Cancer The important points for men who have a family history of prostate cancer is that the 10 year biochemical relapse-free survival were worse for patients with a family history of prostate cancer before 1992,…

  • Sexual life after prostate removal

    This post is for all the men who have prostate cancer or are worried about prostate cancer. One of the most feared side effects of therapy for prostate cancer is the impact on sexual health. Hopefully this will give men a better idea of what to expect and take some of the fear of the…

  • I have prostate cancer: Do I have to wait 6 weeks to have my surgery?

    One point that is debated among urologists is the time a patient has to wait between a prostate biopsy and surgery. While I was at Indiana my chairman taught me that time didn’t matter. The changes after a biopsy should not affect surgery after several days. I took this with me to New Jersey and…

  • Prostate size: Not all prostates are created equally

    A normal sized prostate is roughly the size of a walnut. This weights about 20-30 grams. Prostates all have different sizes and shapes. This has important implications for patients with benign prostate problems, as well as patients with cancer. It has an impact on the side effects expected with radiation, the need for hormones prior…

  • New “normal” PSA velocity

    PSA screening has led to the earlier diagnosis of prostate cancer in many men.  Most urologists feel that this will lead to less prostate cancer mortality in the future. What is considered to be a normal value of PSA has changed over the years.  A PSA of 4 is too high for men that are less than…

  • Nerve sparing- When and how much?

    Since Dr. Patrick Walsh described the nerve sparing techniques for radical prostatectomy, urologists have been trying to spare the nerves responsible for erections. There is a debate among urologists on who is a good candidate for nerve sparing. Id like to ask urologists their opinion. Please vote on the poll below and add a comment…

  • Review of Society of Urologic Oncology Meeting: Open Radical Prostatectomy vs. Robotic vs. Laparoscopic

    AUA 2006 – Society of Urologic Oncology Meeting: Open Radical Prostatectomy vs. Robotic vs. Laparoscopic Source: UroToday