Charles Jukes, from Birmingham
After being diagnosed with prostate cancer my first reaction was to search the Internet for information about possible treatments. Following a meeting with Prof. Neal, I choose a robotic assisted radical prostatectomy because I believed it would give the surgeon the best possible chance of a achieving a successful nerve sparing procedure and for me as a patient a quicker recovery period. In addition, as the procedure as described seemed is less invasive, the risks of infection would therefore be minimised.
Why Addenbrookes Hospital? Simple, Prof David Neal is a UK leader in Prostate Cancer research, they have a ‘robot’ and, Prof. Neal is a leading surgeon experienced in robotic surgery.
Having been admitted the day before my procedure, I met ‘Arnie’ (the robot) the following afternoon. After a brief chat with the ‘theatre team’ the next thing I remember was waking up back in the ward later that evening. The following morning, when I awoke, I was in no real discomfort despite being catheterised. I had a light breakfast before being encouraged to get out of bed and walk around. A day later I was back home in Birmingham with 3 types of painkillers of which I only used 1 tablet on the first night.
All I have to show for the operation are 6 small scars the largest of which is a whole 3 cm long. I believe ‘Robotic surgery’ is the way forward ..... that is if we cannot find a cure, of course.
