Prostatectomy patient experience
Army Lt. Col. Andy Wysor talks about his robotic prostatectomy
"Cancer….I had cancer of my prostate…..it was like a baseball bat across my head. So what now? It was time to do some research. Obviously there are several options available. One can have traditional surgery which means a huge incision from the belly button to the pubic bone. Ouch!! One can have weeks of radiation. There are the radioactive seeds. And then, lo and behold what did I find on the internet but laparoscopic surgery using robotic arms and only six small incisions."
"I would be less than honest if I did not say that I truly agonized over this decision. After 28 years of military service I should be able to make a decision more easily. Normally I can, but this struck me as a major decision. I consulted with both my sister-in-law and brother who are both doctors as well as a friend who is a radiation oncologist for women in North Carolina. After much soul searching, I was convinced (primarily by my brother) that the so-called “Gold Standard” is the removal of the infected organ. Complete removal without the risk of even one cell escaping to run through the body ensures the greatest long term life expectancy. With that decision made, it became obvious that there was only one method which would be acceptable to me and that was laparoscopic surgery."
"I found Dr. Nikhil Shah and the Center for Robotic Surgery at Saint Joseph’s Hospital using a search on the Internet and contacted Erin Popescu, RN, the coordinator. She talked to me and convinced me that Dr. Shah was special and would take me from the 'Gold Standard' up to what I call the 'Platinum Standard.' She is quite a saleslady and so I scheduled an appointment to meet with Dr Shah."
"Dr Shah met with my wife and myself along with my sister-in-law to assist me with the technical questions. He spent the better part of two hours explaining the procedure and any risks involved and at the end of the time I committed to the procedure. My operation took place on Nov. 21, and to be honest the last thing I remember was rolling down the hall toward the operating room. I woke up in a private room on the 4th floor. The nursing care was exceptional and when I was allowed to eat I found that the food -while simple- was tasty. It surely equaled the food from the Army."
"For me, the most difficult part of the recovery was the catheter. Removal of the catheter comes about 10 days after surgery and Dr Shah’s nurse put some numbing lotion on my penis before removal. I was just about to say, “I’m ready” when she announced it was out. Yay !!! It is now about three months after surgery. I wore Depends for about a month but it was more a question of a few drops leaking than anything serious. How much control you gain is directly related to how much sleep you get. My PSA is 0.0 and that is the most important end result."
"I have found Dr Nikhil Shah to be the most empathetic, caring and technically competent doctor I have ever encountered. He has become a true friend. I volunteered to be a 'poster child' for this program because I believe in it strongly and I have recommended several of my friends to his care. I feel that he has given me a new lease on life and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue on this earth. I am a veteran of both Vietnam and Desert Storm and truly understand just how precious life is. I would be more than happy to discuss what I have experienced with anyone who is interested."
For more information about robotic surgery, call 1-866-SJ-ROBOT (1-866-757-6268).
