One in nine men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. It is the most common cancer in Australian men and is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men.

The Wesley Hospital is a Centre of Excellence for Prostate Cancer Care. At the Wesley, Urologists, Medical Oncologists and Radiation Oncologists work together to provide evidenced based treatment for prostate cancer all in the one location. The hospital offers a comprehensive range of prostate cancer care services and treatments including:

- surgery (open, laparoscopic and robotically assisted surgery)
- brachytherapy
- radiation therapy
- chemotherapy

In consultation with their Urologist, patients have access to the treatment option that is most appropriate for them. These services are further complimented by specialised nursing staff and a dedicated urology ward in the Wesley’s new $102 million East Wing.

Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a male sexual gland that manufactures nutrients and fluid for sperm. This fluid is added to the sperm during ejaculation, through the urethra, which passes through the centre of the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the malignant degeneration of cells within the prostate. Prostate cancer cells can grow abnormally and can spread or invade other tissues such as to local lymph nodes.

Robotically Assisted Prostate Surgery

The Wesley Hospital has invested in a “da Vinci” Surgical System, a sophisticated robotic device designed to enable complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach. Robotic surgery is similar to laparoscopic or keyhole surgery where the surgeon operates through several small incisions in the abdomen using a camera and instruments rather than making a large incision. The “da Vinci” Surgical System is being used by Urologists for radical prostatectomies (the removal of the prostate gland due to cancer).

The benefits of robotically assisted prostate cancer surgery:
- less post operative pain
- less blood loss
- less scarring
- shorter hospital stay
- quicker recovery time
- faster return to normal activities. 

Click here to watch a video on Robotically Assisted Prostatectomy.

The “da Vinci” Surgical System

The “da Vinci” is a state-of-the-art surgical robotic system that provides the extended capabilities necessary to remove the prostate using only a few small incisions. With da Vinci Surgery, the surgeon is seated at a nearby console and always in full control of the robotic instruments. Since the assistant is next to the patient and has direct access to the prostate, he or she can assist during complex steps of the procedure.

The “da Vinci” Surgical System consists of a surgeon’s console, a patient-side cart with four interactive robotic arms, a high-performance 3D HD vision system and proprietary EndoWrist® instruments. Powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology, the da Vinci System is designed to scale, filter and seamlessly translate the surgeon's hand movements into more precise movements of the wrist instruments.

The da Vinci System provides the surgeon with a high resolution 3–D colour image. It is designed to increase the surgeon’s dexterity for the difficult aspects of the procedure, especially:

• removing all cancer
• sparing the nerves to preserve erectile function
• preserving continence

Wesley Urologists

Several leading Urologists practice at The Wesley Hospital: