da Vinci Prostatectomy

Interview with Dr. Fagin - (Continued) Part Four

2008-11-06T12:41:00.002-06:00

Learn more about daVinci robotic prostate surgery

Q: Is it painful to have this surgery?

A: Although, it's a minimally invasive procedure it's still surgery and people are sore afterwards. It is unusual for folks to require narcotics, typically either Motrin or a mild pain pill is all that's necessary to allow folks to return to light activities.

Q: What's the recovery time?

A: Patients are typically in the hospital overnight and are discharged the following day. They can resume light activities right away but I don't want patients to resume full rigorous activities for 3-4 weeks. This means depending on the level of the rigor of their work they can go back to work as soon as they are comfortable to.

Q: Do patients come to you from Texas only or are they from other states too?

A: I've had patients from all over the continental United States, as well as Alaska and Hawaii. I have a number of patients who've come to me from Mexico, Central America, South America, Asia and India.

Q: If I elect to have a more traditional surgery do you perform those too?

A: No, I have not performed a traditional open surgery in over 8 1/2 years. I have not found a need to do so.

Q: How can I contact you to talk about robotic surgery?

A: You can contact me through an inquiry on our website at www.prostatecenterofaustin.com.
In the "Contact us" link you should have the ability to post an inquiry that I'll be happy to respond to.

In Conclusion: Thank you Dr. Fagin!

Manx

Interview with Dr. Fagin - (Continued) Part Three

2008-10-05T22:12:00.003-05:00

Learn more about daVinci robotic prostate surgery

Q: If my Father had prostate cancer does this mean I will get it? What about my son?

A: If you have a family history of prostate cancer it increases your risk of having the disease although you are not "destined" to get it over your lifetime. You should be more vigilant about your screening starting at age forty with PSA and rectal exams.

Q: What are the benefits of robotic surgery as it relates to prostate cancer?

A: The most important thing when choosing any type of surgery whether robotic or open is the experience of the surgeon. You should ask your surgeon about their own outcomes as it relates to surgery. Specifically, robotic surgery where we are seeing reduced blood loss, less pain and quicker return to regular activities. In some data series we have seen a more rapid recovery of urinary control as well as sexual function. The improved vision and precision robotics affords allows the surgeon to not only have a better view but a more precise tool with which to perform the surgery. Because this is just a tool it is still the surgeon and the experience of that surgeon that matters most.

Q: How many of these have you performed?

A: I have performed over one-thousand daVinci prostate surgeries and will perform over 400 surgeries this year alone.

Q: Is it considered experimental?

A: No, the daVinci was FDA approved in 2000 and is accepted by Medicare and most major insurance. This year we anticipate over 60% of prostate surgeries will be done using the daVinci robot.

Q: Will I be able to have sexual relations afterwards?

A: This depends on sexual function before surgery as well as our ability to spare the nerve bundles. In the best case scenario with good sexual function before surgery and the cancer allows us to spare those nerve bundles the majority of my patients are able to recover erections capable of intercourse.

Q: What about urinary incontinence?

A: Initially, after the surgery patients will have difficulty with urinary control however this typically recovers fairly rapidly. In about eight weeks time my patients average less than two urinary pads a day and within six months less than a half a pad per day.

Stay tuned for more.....

Interview with Dr. Fagin - Continued:

2008-03-16T15:50:00.001-05:00

Learn more about daVinci robotic prostate surgery

Q: Can my family be there for the surgery?

A: Absolutely!

Q: Is it expensive?

A: daVinci robotic surgery is covered by Medicare as well as most major medical carriers. Your out-of-pocket payment is really whatever your deductible would be for in-patient hospital care.

Q: How many men in the overall population have been diagnosed with prostate cancer?

A: Over 200,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the end of 2007 alone. It is the second leading cause of cancer related death in men and 1 in 6 men over their lifetime will be diagnosed with it.

Q: What is the survival rate?

A: It depends on how aggressive the cancer is. If the cancer is caught early enough the rates can exceed 90%, which is why screening becomes so important with PSA's and rectal exams.

Q: What age should you begin having check-ups for prostate cancer?

A: If you have no family history of prostate cancer we recommend starting screening at age 40.

Q: What does PSA mean?

A: It stands for "prostate specific antigen" which is an antigen produced specifically by the prostate gland and is produced in abnormally high quantities when there is prostate cancer.

Q: If my PSA is high does this mean that I have cancer?

A: No, there are many things that can cause a high PSA. Everything from infections to enlarged prostates to trauma to the area can cause a PSA to rise. Cancer is only one of many things that can cause a high PSA.

Stay tuned for more questions!

Interview with Dr. Fagin

2007-10-11T15:14:00.000-05:00

Learn more about daVinci robotic prostate surgeryInterview with Dr. Fagin on prostatectomy

Interview with Dr. Fagin:

Question: Dr. Fagin what symptoms typically occur that prompt a patient to seek medical advice leading to prostatectomy?

Answer: There are rarely any symptoms of prostate cancer which is what makes screening so important. It is recommended that every man over the age of 50 and men who have a family history of prostate cancer or african-americans starting at age 40 get a PSA and rectal exam every year. Prostate cancer is a silent disease and screening with a PSA and rectal exam is the only way to catch it at an early enough stage that it is potentially curable.

Question: What is the typical procedure for scheduling prior to the actual surgery?

Answer: We have a team of specialists who take care of my patients both locally as well as manage pre-operative testing. Our goal is to make the experience as hassle-free as possible. The team does everything we can to allow the patient to focus on their care and allow us to take care of the paperwork behind it.

Question: What can I expect the night before surgery?

Answer: Get a good night’s sleep, you’ll be on your liquid diet, as well as the magnesium citrate to clean out the bowels. Other than following our instructions and getting a good night’s sleep that’s all that one needs to do.

More of Dr. Fagin’s Interview will be posted soon…..

Interview with Dr. Fagin on Prostatectomy with DaVinci Robot

2006-06-16T16:59:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned for this interesting interview with Dr. Fagin discussing the DaVinci Robotic Prostatectomy.