WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News LeaderModern Medicine: Prostate Cancer Treatment

Modern Medicine: Prostate Cancer Treatment

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By Jessica Foster - email

  • What's Going Around

  • Wednesday, May 16 2012 10:51 AM EDT2012-05-16 14:51:04 GMT
    The heat is on, and one way to get relief is by hitting the pool or Gulf, but be aware of swimmer's ear. Dr. Timothy Nichols from Emerald Coast Urgent Care says when water gets trapped in the ear canal,
    As the temperature warms, the cases of swimmer's ear are increasing.

  • Wednesday, May 9 2012 10:46 AM EDT2012-05-09 14:46:26 GMT
    Dr. Timothy Nichols from Emerald Coast Urgent Care says clinics have seen a significant rise in pink eye recently. Dr. Nichols explains that symptoms include: a red eye a gritty sensation in the
    Red and watery eyes should not be ignored. It could signal an infection of the eye.  Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is going around this week.

  • Wednesday, May 2 2012 11:53 AM EDT2012-05-02 15:53:10 GMT
    An increase in Upper Respiratory Infections is now leading to a complication of the sinuses. Dr. Timothy Nichols from Emerald Coast Urgent Care says Sinusitis, an infection of the sinus cavities, is
    An onslaught of Upper Respiratory Infections is now leading to a complication of the sinuses.

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Panama City, Fla. -

All men are at risk of prostate cancer.  Doctors say if caught in the early stages, prostate cancer is treatable.  The method used depends on the patient, but one advancement is the use of the da Vinci Surgical System to remove the prostate gland.

Tom Pruitt was diagnosed with prostate cancer in August of 2008.   Dr. Warren Hitt from the Panama City Urologic Center performed a Robotic Prostatectomy on Tom.

"It's less invasive, which means you don't have a large incision. You spend one night in the hospital as opposed to three or four nights in the hospital," Dr. Hitt explained.

Tom said, "within two weeks of my surgery, I was out on a 10 day camping trip, so recovery is very fast from it."

With the da Vinci Robot, a doctor sits at a console and moves the arms of the robot inside the patient.

"What my hands do on the machine is what the arms do on the robot.  It allows us to do a lot of things we couldn't do before," Dr. Hitt said.

Dr. Hitt explained that screening through a PSA Blood Test and Digital Rectal Exam should begin at age 50.  If there's a family history, that screening should take place at 40.  He also recommends black men begin screening at age 40 or 45 because of their increased risk of prostate cancer.