New surgery to fight prostate cancer
Dr. Kamal Mattar, Dr. Hagop Mazmanian, Dr. Tom Song, and OR Technician Pauline Stoop carry out the surgical procedure using one-centimetre incisions which allow microscopic surgical tools, fibre-optic cameras and lights attached to scopes into the patient’s body.
Each year in Niagara, approximately 450 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Starting in the early 1950s, various treatment options have been available, including chemotherapy or drug therapy, radiation therapy, and surgery to remove the prostate gland.
Surgical advancements have come a long way in 60 years, and Welland Urologist Dr. Tom Song is mastering a new type of procedure for prostate cancer – a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. A radical prostatectomy is removal of the entire prostate gland to prevent the spread of cancer to lymph nodes and then to bones. Since he started practicing 16 years ago, Dr. Song and his urology colleagues have been performing radical prostatectomies using a scalpel incision.
What we’re now doing in Welland is an evolution from other types of laparoscopic surgery.
Dr. Tom Song
Raising awareness and funds
- Congratulations to Dr. Tom Song, above, and his urology colleagues, who banded together several years ago to create the Blue Ribbon Task Force, with the twin goals of raising funds for cancer treatment locally and educating residents on prostate cancer.
- A recent health education event May 13 in St. Catharines focused on laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, and the group is planning a fall health education evening. As well, the task force is organizing the Blue Ribbon annual gala dinner Sept. 18, which in the past seven years has raised an amazing $400,000 towards prostate cancer.
- A new local fundraising event May 30 supporting prostate cancer treatment is the Motorcycle Ride for Dad, hosted by the Niagara Region Police Association. Hundreds of riders collect pledges during the 250-kilometre ride that starts and ends at Queenston Heights. There are about 30 similar ride events across Canada happening in May and June.
Facts about prostate cancer
- 1 in 6 men will develop prostate cancer. It is the most common cancer to afflict Canadian men. Last year, about 4,400 men died from prostate cancer.
- Diet is linked to prostate cancer. A low-fat diet may help prevent this cancer.
- The risk of prostate cancer in Asian men is five times higher in North America than in Asia: one possible reason is the high-fat North American diet.
- Thirty to 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity most days of the week is a general recommendation for reducing the risk of cancer.
- Prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing is recommended for men over age 40.
- Regular PSA testing can reduce prostate cancer death by 20%, according to the largest study ever conducted on prostate cancer screening.
Source: www.prostatecancer.ca
Over the last year, he’s been training with experts from Hamilton to carry out radical prostatectomies in Niagara using a laparoscopic approach.
“What we’re now doing in Welland is an evolution from other types of laparoscopic surgery,” Dr. Song says. “Surgeons across the NHS have been leaders in their fields with advanced minimally invasive procedures such as thorascopic lung resection, endoscopic sinus surgery, arthroscopic joint reconstruction and laparoscopic bowel resection.”
In laparoscopic surgery, four or five tiny keyhole incisions are made. Miniature cameras, lights and surgical tools are attached to flexible scopes, and surgeons and OR staff view the bones, organs and tissues on a video monitor. The advantages of this minimally invasive surgery include low recovery time and blood loss.
Reducing erectile nerve damage
Radical prostatectomies may cause erectile nerve damage, impacting sexual function. “The main benefit to prostate removal this way is that there is potentially better nerve sparing for men under 70 who wish to remain sexually active after surgery. The surgery is about 50% successful for preserving erectile function.”
This type of prostate gland removal is not for all patients, Dr. Song points out, and the conventional type of surgery will always be in demand.
“There are situations where minimally invasive surgery is appropriate, and there are other situations where a larger incision is required. Patient safety is the foremost consideration in selecting the surgical approach.”
Dr. Kamal Mattar, with a practice in Niagara Falls, is also doing the new surgery and is one of seven urologists in Niagara. Based on the number of patients who would be appropriate for a laparoscopic prostatectomy, Dr. Song expects he and Dr. Mattar will do about 25 of the keyhole surgeries a year.
Best technology
“It costs upwards of $50,000 to outfit an operating room to perform laparoscopic prostatectomy procedures, not counting staff salaries, so we are offering the procedure at one site and our urology physicians are committed to going where the best technology and best practices can be implemented,” explains Patty Welychka, Director of the NHS Surgical Program.
“From a surgical program perspective, what this means is that we are co-ordinating and consolidating surgical services to improve patient care and to offer the best technology in our system without duplication,” Patty says. “The urologists are leaders in this type of regional initiative, not only in improved patient care, but in technology advancements and best practices within the Niagara Health System.”
“Our Urology Department works very well together, and our colleagues will continue to treat prostate cancers in the most effective manner. They will assess the situation, and if appropriate for laparoscopic surgery, patients will be referred to Dr. Mattar or myself,” Dr. Song says. “At the end of the day, the NHS and the people we serve can be confident that they are receiving the best and most appropriate care in terms of technology and safety. Our mandate is to adopt only those new technologies that have been thoroughly evaluated and introduce them in a safe and responsible way.” «
