Prostate Cancer Surgery Options in Germany

The prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. In men over 50 years old, changes that occur within the prostate tissue can lead to an increased prostate volume. In turn, this prostate enlargement can narrow the urinary tract, which causes a weaker urine stream and a frequent need of urination; there are also certain commotions occurring during the process of urination.

Further, a cancerous tumour can appear; its appearance is not conditioned by the patient’s lifestyle or sexual activity. One out of 6 men develops prostate cancer. Contrary to the benign enlargement of the prostate (BPH) prostate cancer does not cause any symptoms.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

A good, precise diagnosing of the prostate cancer is crucial. There are many helpful procedures and tools which make the whole diagnosing process easier and more precise, such as:

PSA blood test – the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is used mainly to try to find prostate cancer early in men without symptoms

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) – a small probe is lubricated and placed in the rectum, then it gives off sound waves that enter the prostate and create echoes; the probe picks up the echoes, which a computer then turns into a black and white image of the prostate.

Prostate biopsy – a sample of body tissue is removed and then looked at under a microscope.

Grading prostate cancer – pathologists grade prostate cancers according to the Gleason system.

Bone scan – if prostate cancer spreads to distant sites, it often goes to the bones first, so a bone scan can help show whether cancer has reached the bones.

Computed tomography (CT) scan – this test isn’t often needed for newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – it can produce a very clear pictures of the prostate and show whether the cancer has spread outside the prostate; MRI scans use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays to create pictures.

ProstaScint scan – it uses an injection of low-level radioactive material to find cancer that has spread beyond the prostate.

Lymph node biopsy – one or more lymph nodes are removed to see if they contain cancer cells.

Biopsy during surgery – the surgeon may remove lymph nodes in the pelvis during the same operation as the radical prostatectomy.

Biopsy as a separate procedure – laparoscopic biopsy to see inside the abdomen and pelvis without needing to make a large incision or fine needle aspiration (FNA) to take a sample of cells from an enlarged node.

How is prostate cancer treated?

Depending on the situation, the treatment options for men with prostate cancer might include surgery, radiation therapy, cryosurgery (cryotherapy), hormone therapy, chemotherapy, vaccine treatment, bone-directed treatment.

Surgery

• Radical (open) prostatectomy
• Robotic or laparoscopic prostatectomy
• Cryosurgery
• Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

Radiation therapy

• External-beam radiation therapy
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
• Proton therapy
• Brachytherapy

Systemic treatments

Hormone therapy: bilateral orchiectomy, LHRH agonists / antagonist, anti-androgens, combined androgen blockad, CYP17 inhibitors

• Chemotherapy
• Vaccine therapy

Benefits of robotic surgery for prostate cancer

• Clinically superior results
• Reduced risk of complications
• Quicker recovery period
• Minimize scarring

Prostate Cancer Center, Frankfurt, Germany

The clinic employs the most advanced methods for the diagnosis and therapy of prostate cancer. They have established a close interdisciplinary collaboration with Urologists, Pathologists, Radiologist, Anaesthesiologists and Scientists from different countries in Europe, USA and Asia. Continuous innovation and the highest possible degree of competence are thus guaranteed.

Focal therapy of prostate cancer with the NanoKnife (irreversible electroporation) available at the Prostate Cancer Center allows the selective destruction of cancer cells in those areas of the prostate which harbour the cancer, with only minimal damage to healthy parts of the prostate. Treatment with NanoKnife causes cell death induced by strong local electric fields. In advanced cases of prostate cancer, the NanoKnife treatment can be complemented with CyberKnife treatment.

Top Medical Centers

Prostate Cancer Center, Frankfurt, Germany

Treatments & Procedures:

• Prostate Cancer: Screening and Diagnosis
• Multi-modal MR-Diagnostic Imaging
• Prostate Cancer Treatments
• 3D-Biopsy
• Treatment of Prostate Cancer with Irreversible Electroporation (NanoKnife)

German International Clinic, Frankfurt, Germany

Treatments & Procedures:

• Apheresis
• Detoxification
• Deacidication
• Specified nutrition
• Psycho Onkology

You can learn about the different ways doctors use to treat men with prostate cancer.

Do not hesitate to contact us in order to find the best doctors and clinics in Germany!