Robotic prostate cancer surgery not only fails to save significant numbers of lives, it is associated with more complications than probably any other type of cancer surgery.
This toxic, so-called treatment has never been proven to be safe or effective through any scientifically conducted, evidence-based studies. It simply took on a life of its own because medical device manufacturers and urologists were never held accountable.
The Rot in The Prostate Cancer Narrative
The rot in the prostate cancer narrative began with H.H. Young’s report out of Johns Hopkins, “The Early Diagnosis and Radical Cure of Prostate Cancer”. Not only was there zero evidence for early diagnosis of prostate cancer but, there was no evidence for cure and shamefully, Young’s conclusion that prostate cancer surgery furnished “remarkably satisfactory functional results” was an outrageous lie. In fact, the first two men died from his misguided surgery (one postoperatively and the other after treatment for a complication common with this procedure), plus his two surviving patients were left with lifelong wetting problems.
Prostate Cancer Surgery and Human Experimentation
The basis for this prostate cancer treatment philosophy was the false belief that “cutting out” a prostate cancer was a good plan, and that it should “work”. Through mob mentality, propaganda and, unbelievable human experimentation, urologists went on to call their prostate cancer surgery “standard practice” or “gold standard”. Even when prostate surgeons introduced the robotic device for prostate cancer surgery they lied to the public about its safety and benefits. By taking advantage of the misguided 510(k) loophole in the FDA approval system, urologists had an FDA “approved” label rubber-stamped to the robotic device without the tool having been tested scientifically on even a single case of prostate cancer.
The Dangers of Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgeries
Not only does prostate cancer surgery fail to save significant numbers of lives but, the complications associated with this reckless “treatment” are common, severe and often, last lifelong. A partial list of complications includes death, hemorrhaging, embolism, bowel, bladder, ureteral and nerve injuries, infections, hernias, positioning pressure injuries to muscles and eyes, foreign bodies, depression and, suicide. Additionally, surgeons have spent decades refining techniques to minimize the damage affecting manhood and bladder control. Urologists clearly recognize the many dangers associated with robotic prostate cancer surgery since they commonly mentally prepare patients before surgery about the likelihood of severe complications.
Prostate Cancer Surgery and Sexual Complications
Notwithstanding the hollow assurances of a “nerve sparing technique” to “preserve” erections (and rarely, incorporating nerve grafts during prostate removal) men will still be robbed of their manhood and, unlike for any other surgical procedure, this terrible radical prostatectomy complication will also compromise the conjugal rights of his wife/partner. Following surgery, patients will inevitably be steered towards money-making strategies for “penile rehabilitation” and “sexual healing”. Most men will be left needing the help of pills, urethral suppositories, vacuum devices, vibration devices and penile injections or, a combination of these treatments just to achieve some stiffness to the penis. Many other patients however, will find that they can only stuff the penis into the vagina because surgery has permanently weakened or destroyed their natural erections.
Prostate Cancer Surgery, Penile Shortening and, Ejaculating Urine
Adding to this sexual distress of being left “limp and leaking” is the high likelihood of being left with a shortened penis, generalized penile shrinkage, diminished penile erectile girth, penile deformity, penile curvature and, penile numbness. Not only will all men be rendered infertile after the radical prostatectomy but, if the ability for orgasm was somehow preserved, there can be altered perception of orgasm and or, pain at climax. Besides, there will be no ejaculate as before and, some men will now ejaculate urine. It is little wonder that many men have lost all desire for sex after their radical prostatectomy. Ask the wives and partners of the men who had robotic prostate cancer surgery to get the real story.
Prostate Cancer Surgery and Wetting Your Pants
Because wetting is common after radical prostatectomy, some surgeons will try to prevent urinary leakage by adding a sling procedure at the time the prostate is removed. Postoperatively, many patients will be pushed into performing months of worthless Kegels exercises, directed to biofeedback or, other revenue-producing incontinence “rehabilitation” programs. Others will be steered towards urodynamic testing, outpatient cystoscopic bulking injections to the damaged urinary sphincter, needle suspension procedures, slings or, nerve stimulator implants to try and restore urinary control. Unfortunately, many men will still be left leaking and have to wear pads or diapers and, some will need to apply a penile clamp for urinary control.
More Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgery Complications
Urologists have always known that their robotic prostate cancer surgery was really a three stage affair, one to “cut out” the cancer and two, to profit handsomely from more surgery to fix all the “limp and leaking” complications with implantable devices. Stage three was even more surgery to correct the many complications associated with the failure of these penile prostheses and sphincter implant devices. Along with unending expenses and misery, most men will live with lifelong regret for having “chosen” robotic prostate cancer surgery.
Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgery Spreads Cancer Cells
Not only have studies shown that the handling of the prostate during surgery releases showers of cancer cells into the circulation to settle in the bone marrow for possible future metastases but, many studies have shown that some 10-40% of patients will be left with a positive margin or, residual cancer after their so-called surgical treatment. Not surprisingly, urologists will withhold this important information from you during “counseling”. At the same time they will be busy denigrating radiation treatment because it also may be associated with residual or recurrent cancer and, to pad their case for surgery even more, tell you that salvage surgery may not be possible after radiation. However, if you are left with residual cancer after the “curative” robotic surgery your urologist will be the first to want to treat this area with radiation.
Prostate Cancer Surgery and Bogus Gleason 6 Prostate Cancers
Although called a cancer, scientific evidence shows that the common Gleason 3+3=6 “cancer” is really a disease and NOT a true cancer because it lacks several molecular biology mechanisms necessary for it to behave as cancerous. Despite this knowledge, urologists will capitalize on the shock value of this bogus cancer label just to create concern and doubt. By adding more misleading talk about possible upgrading and progression of this pseudo-cancer, it is easy to scare men towards unneeded and risky robotic surgery.
Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgery and Physician Lies
Capitalizing on the shock value of a mostly false prostate cancer label, surgical “experts” offering “counsel” know exactly how to work their victims with the most outrageous lies like, cancers are “best” cut out; radical surgery/robotic prostatectomy can “save” your life; postoperative impotence and incontinence may be necessary to “save” your life; treatment is better than “letting the cancer get away”; your disease is contained “so we better get it out quickly”; younger men do “best” with surgery; aggressive tumors respond “only” to surgery; other treatment options have less success; your disease is multifocal/bilobar and therefore responds “best” (or only) to surgery; if other treatments like radiation fail, subsequent “salvage” surgery is impossible; radiation increases the risk of other cancers; prostate cancers will progress or, upgrade; surgery follows healthcare “guidelines”; surgery represents “standard of care”; surgery is the “gold standard”; you will be a “survivor”. For the most part, you will be a survivor of the robotic prostate cancer surgery and not, a survivor of the cancer.
More Prostate Cancer Myths and Lies
Not only do urologists lie about the many dangers associated with robotic prostate cancer surgery but, the American Urological Association’s call for prostate cancer screening in healthy men is highly suspect. The PSA is not cancer-specific, highly unreliable and, its normal limits are artificial; the prostate exam is no more reliable than a coin-toss; the “standard” ultrasound-guided 12-core needle biopsy of the prostate samples randomly only some 0.1-0.3% of the prostate; the reading of your biopsy slides by pathologists is error-prone and not fool-proof; so-called staging of your cancer with CAT scans and bone scans is often unneeded and highly unreliable due to their insensitivity; the common Gleason 6 prostate “cancer” doesn’t behave as a cancer at all and, although FDA “approved”, radical and focal therapy treatments lack scientific evidence-based support. Only the 15% or so of high-risk prostate cancers with significant amounts of pattern 4 disease or above are potentially lethal and, only these types of prostate cancer demand treatment. However, despite the dilemma as to which treatment is best for high-risk cancers, generally, the chance of you getting hurt and an unneeded treatment in the prostate cancer arena is far greater than the very remote chance of you being “saved”.
Prostate Cancer Surgery and its Many Warnings
For years, warnings about the many dangers of robotic prostate cancer surgery have been recorded. Endless lawsuits against urologists and the robotic device maker can be found upon googling “robotic prostate cancer surgery complications”. Additional warnings have come from Government agencies such as the USPSTF (The US Preventive Services Task Force) and MAUDE (Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience), the American Cancer Society (Otis Brawley MD, “Prostate Cancer Screening’s False Promises”), urologists like Anthony Horan MD, “The Big Scare” and, science reporter, Ron Piana, “The Great Prostate Hoax”. As well, the robotics maker themselves clearly recognize the many complications associated with the device as they are forever adding to their huge list of website disclaimers. Robotic prostate cancer surgery is never indicated for any type of prostate cancer since it fails to save lives and, the after-effects of this misguided treatment are generally, worse than the disease itself.
The “Cancer” of Waning Physician Trust
Sadly, robotic prostate cancer surgery and its many dangers are a clear example of physicians failing to embrace the Hippocratic Oath and its principles of using treatments for the benefit of the ill but keeping them from harm. Shamefully, urologists’ gaming of a cancer label and their promotion of the debilitating robotic prostatectomy have not only added to the general moral decline in the art of healing but, triggered major trust concerns in patients.
For additional reading about Why Most Prostate Cancers Are Fake, please visit https://urologyweb.com/why-most-prostate-cancers-and-treatments-are-fake/
The Prostate Cancer Doctor
Bert Vorstman MD, MS, FAAP, FRACS, FACS
(954) 752 3166