Life after Radical Prostatectomy: A Real-Life Story
When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, my grandson was just 1 year old. He was learning how to walk and speak, and, of course, I was hoping to hear the word “grandpa” from him. After my prostate cancer diagnosis, I thought that I won’t be able to experience this special moment. I was 65 at the time. I did not want to give up, however. Therefore, I wanted to consult the best doctor of this field. Me and my daughter searched the best doctor for a month. I had examinations with a couple of doctors in my hometown in Moldova. My daughter called me one night. She excitedly said, “I found the professor who will treat you. He is in Istanbul, Turkiye. His name is Professor Ali Rıza Kural. He is one of the pioneer urologists in prostate cancer treatment.”
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer type in men. It has a potential to spread to other parts of the body and if left untreated, it can be fatal. In addition, the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer is rising each year. The good news is prostate cancer is one of the most treatable cancer types. Over the last two decades, the death rate from prostate cancer has declined more than 50%. If prostate cancer is still located in the prostate, it can be safely treated with high success rates thanks to new developments in medical technology and experienced doctors. Acıbadem Healthcare Group provides the best treatment options for prostate cancer patients in Istanbul, Turkiye who come from more than 30 countries of the world.
Today, there are multiple treatment options for prostate cancer. The role of radiotherapy has been rising. Moreover, HIFU is a new, dependable, non-invasive method performed with ultrasound and high temperature. However radical prostatectomy surgery is still the golden standard for localized prostate cancers. This operation is performed with laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery. Acıbadem’s urology team includes expert surgeons who are not only the first surgeons who performed prostate cancer surgery in Turkiye but also who are among the firsts in the world.
Prostate cancer is a serious that affects many of middle-aged and senior men. Thanks to technological developments and the experience of Acıbadem urologists, prostate cancer can safely be treated with high success rates.
Prof. Ali Rıza Kural said that Andrei’s cancer was localized, meaning it was contained within the prostate gland itself. Andrei didn’t need further treatment for the prostate cancer after the surgery, he only needed regular monitoring of his PSA. “We performed a robotic radical prostatectomy. Radical prostatectomy is removing the prostate gland. We did this surgery as a minimally invasive method. Thanks to our 30-year experience derived from more than one thousand medical cases, and our cutting-edge robotic surgery system, we did not harm the tissue which is responsible for continence. As a potential complication of the surgery, Andrei had suffered from incontinence for a short period. Nevertheless, he regained control of incontinence. Permanent incontinence after robotic radical prostatectomy is rare when performed by expert surgeons.
Success rates for prostate cancer treatment are rather high if the prostate cancer is still in the prostate and the surgery is performed by experienced surgeons in qualified hospitals.
I had to deal with incontinence. This was a big issue for me for a while. I didn’t know how long this was going to last. However, as Prof. Ali Rıza Kural said, leakage of urine disappeared after a short while. Today, after 2 years of surgery, I feel very well. Two years ago, when I had a prostate cancer diagnosis, I thought that I would never hear my grandson say grandpa to me, but today is his third birthday!
I can’t thank Prof. Ali Rıza Kural and Acıbadem Hospital enough for the feeling of overwhelming joy I have today
Prof. Ali Rıza Kural, MD
Professor Dr. Ali Rıza Kural is a leading expert in Turkiye and worldwide in the field of urologic surgery and robotic surgery. Currently, he heads the Robotic Surgery and Urology Department at Acibadem Maslak Hospital. During his spectacular career, Prof. Kural has introduced multiple novel surgical techniques for the first time in Turkiye. He began to apply the first closed kidney stone surgeries in 1986. He was also the first to use the closed surgery method called TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prof. Ali Rıza Kural carried out the first applications of urologic laparoscopy, particularly in the treatment of kidney cancer and prostate cancer in Turkiye. In 2003, he performed the first prostate cancer surgeries with the Da Vinci robot in Turkiye, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. With more than 150 articles published in national and international journals, Prof. Kural is an active member of the most reputable professional associations in Turkiye, Europe, and the USA, providing courses and training programs in Turkiye and abroad. In 2018, he was awarded an honorary membership by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow. In 2021, Prof. Ali Rıza Kural won the World Endourology Association 2021 Trainer of the Year Award.
About Acıbadem Maslak Hospital
Opened in 2009 and expanded in 2018, Acıbadem Maslak is the largest hospital of the leading private healthcare provider in Turkiye and the region Acibadem Healthcare Group. Incorporating the latest technologies and internationally acclaimed physicians, Acıbadem Maslak serves as a national and international referral center for many complex treatments and surgeries. It provides comprehensive services for pediatric and adult patients across multiple medical specialties, including oncology, heart care, intensive care, IVF treatment, spine health, robot-assisted surgery, etc. The hospital has international JCI quality accreditation and LEED Gold Certificate for environment-friendly building. With its 106.000 m2 indoor area, 364 beds, 36 intensive care beds, and 20 operating theatres, Acıbadem Maslak provides world-class healthcare in a relaxing and healing environment
