Prostate cancer continues to be the #1 cancer of American men in terms of incidence. Intense research continues why certain patients get prostate cancer and what are the risk factors. However, to date, most cases of prostate cancer do not have an identifiable cause in contrast to other cancers such as lung cancer, which are typically the result of tobacco smoking.

Prostate cancer is also unlike other cancers in that in most early cases it causes virtually NO symptoms! Most commonly, a screening blood test for prostate cancer, PSA is the only abnormality. However, a small minority of men may still present with advanced stage disease and have symptoms such as blood in the urine (hematuria), bone pain (from cancer spread to the bones), kidney failure (from blockage of urine flow by the cancer).

For patients with elevated (abnormal) PSA values, the first step is usually prostate biopsy. This is typically a 10 minute outpatient procedure that is painless and well tolerated and will determine whether an abnormal PSA is due to prostate cancer.

There are SEVERAL treatment options for prostate cancer, which often makes deciding more difficult for the patient. These include:

1) Active Surveillance (observation or watchful waiting)

2) Radiation Therapy (including external beam radiation or brachytherapy seeds)

3) Cryotherapy or HIFU (freezing the prostate or treatment with focused ultrasound)

4) Radical prostatectomy (total surgical removal of the prostate)

Many men ask "What is the best treatment?"

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors including your age, overall health, and certain factors related to the cancer (stage, Gleason score, PSA).

However, in general, radical prostatectomy has been associated with the highest chance for long term cure and for patients in good health with long life expectancy, radical prostatectomy is usually the recommended treatment.

In recent years, Robot assisted radical prostatectomy has revolutionized surgical treatment for prostate cancer by providing an effective way to remove the prostate in a minimally invasive fashion allowing fast recovery. In fact, more than 70% of all patients undergoing radical prostatectomy are having it done using the da Vinci surgical robot.

For more information on robotic prostatectomy, please visit: