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Minimally invasive prostate surgery performed by expert consultant surgeons
A robotic prostatectomy, which might also be called a robotic radical prostatectomy, or a robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, is a type of keyhole surgery performed with the help of a robotic system.
When we refer to robotic surgery, or robotics-assisted surgery, we don’t mean an operation performed by a robot. The procedure is still performed by your Consultant Urological Surgeon. The robotic element is simply a technical surgical platform that your Surgeon uses to help them be as precise as possible. In an operation such as a prostatectomy, precision is of the utmost importance. The more precise your Surgeon can be, the better your chances of a full recovery and the lower the risk of significant side effects
If you are nervous about the concept of robotic surgery, be reassured that it is very commonplace. In 2020, 89% of prostatectomies in England were carried out using this technology.1
For some patients with prostate cancer, surgeons can use a method called ‘nerve-sparing prostatectomy’. This approach aims to preserve as much of the tissue and organs around your prostate as possible, in the hope that you will retain your ability to get erections. In order to successfully use the nerve-sparing method, surgeons need to be incredibly precise in their work.• Your cancer has not yet spread beyond your prostate
• You are young and have a tumour that is considered to be active
• You have high-risk, localised prostate cancer
At Circle Health, we have a network of experienced specialists who can help to diagnose, assess and create bespoke treatment plans for prostate cancer. Whether you have symptoms you would like investigated or have already received diagnosis of prostate cancer, our Consultant Urologists are here to help you.
In order to see one of our Consultant Urological Surgeons at Circle Health, you will first need a referral from a GP or Consultant. If you would like advice on getting this referral, feel free to get in touch by phone or make an online enquiry.
If your cancer is contained to your prostate gland, your Consultant may recommend prostate removal surgery as the best option for you. Because we are a private hospital group, we don’t have waiting lists for prostate removal surgery. You should be able to have your consultation within 48 hours of getting in touch, and your treatment will move as quickly as necessary from then on.
• Eating plenty of nutritious food
• Staying as active as possible
• Stopping smoking (if applicable)
• Staying within a healthy weight range
Before surgery, you will have a preoperative assessment to assess your general health. This will be performed at one of our hospitals or via telephone consultation.
During this consultation, your Nurse will discuss everything you need to know before surgery, and take you through a questionnaire to ensure you are fit and healthy before the procedure.
If you need any checks or examinations before your stay with us (for example, blood or urine tests) we will arrange these for either before or during your preoperative assessment.
We aim to provide you with as much information as possible during your assessment, from what time you need to arrive at hospital for surgery, to whether you need to stay overnight with us to recover after.
If you and your Consultant decide that a private robotic prostatectomy is the best choice for you, our team will book you in for the procedure at a time that suits you. Many of our hospitals offer appointments outside of working hours and even at weekends.
Our team will tell you when to arrive and what to bring. After you arrive at hospital, we will get you set up with everything you need before the procedure. Your Consultant will talk you through what is planned for your surgery, and answer any last-minute questions you might have. You might also meet other members of our theatre team, such as your Anaesthetist.
Some men will experience temporary urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery. These symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to a few months, and will vary from person to person. You can always speak to your Consultant if they are interfering with your quality of life. They may be able to offer treatment to help the issue.
There is also a small risk that these effects will be permanent, though your Consultant Urological Surgeon will have done their best to avoid this happening.
• Pain
• Bleeding (during or after surgery)
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Reaction to the anaesthesia
The most significant potential side-effects of having your prostate removed are:
• Short- or long-term urinary incontinence or damage to the urethra
• Short- or long-term erectile dysfunction (loss of sexual function)
• Incisional hernia
• Urethral stricture
• Injury to a surrounding structure, such as the rectum
Your consultant will discuss any side effects with you before deciding on the procedure.
The final price will be different for every patient and depends on various factors. For example, you will usually pay more for robotic surgery than a traditional operation.
At Circle Health, we see patients with Private Medical Insurance and also patients who choose to pay for a one-off course of treatment (rather than committing to health insurance).
We will give you a fixed price before you book the procedure, which will include aftercare as standard.
This price does not include your initial consultation fee or the cost of any initial diagnostics.
We offer a selection of flexible payment options, allowing you to spread the cost of treatment over 10 months to five years. In many instances, your repayments will be interest-free for the first 10 months.
*This is a guide price for patients who are paying for their own treatment. The actual cost of your treatment will be confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
“The room was comfortable and spacious. The food menu was brilliant! I had no idea there would be so many options, it was like being in a hotel with a three-course food menu at my fingertips. I’m upset I didn’t have the stomach to order everything after surgery...”
Paul felt that Ben showed great compassion and kindness, even while performing complex surgery. He made a point to call Paul’s mother-in-law and his wife to assure them that, although the procedure was taking longer than usual, it was nothing to worry about, and that Paul was okay. “He was just amazing, keeping them in the loop like that. They really appreciated it,” says Paul.
It wasn’t just Mr Sherwood who helped make Paul’s experience at The Park Hospital that little bit less daunting. Paul had a team of nurses that supported him throughout the five days he spent in hospital recovering after surgery. He says: “They were so kind and helpful. It felt odd discussing such intimate things about myself with the team at first, but they made me feel so comfortable and open.”
The surgery eliminated Paul's cancer. He is now back at work full-time and fills his weekends with trips to the local golf course and family outings.
Read the full story of Paul's treatment and recovery journey.
1Using robotic surgery to improve patient outcomes
2Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy Is More Beneficial for Prostate Cancer Patients: A System Review and Meta-Analysis
3A selected review and personal experience with robotic prostatectomy: implications for adoption of this new technology in the United Kingdom
Paul Jenkins underwent robotic prostatectomy for prostate cancer at The Park Hospital in Nottingham.
Find out how we eliminated his cancer and helped him get his life back on track.
Mr Ben Sherwood is a consultant urological surgeon specialising in prostate cancer. Here he explains some of the conditions, treatments and concerns with regards to prostate cancer.