Effective Prostate Cancer Treatments at CMDA Alomar
Centre Medic Diagnostic Alomar (CMDA), in Barcelona, Spain, offers different treatments for prostate cancer, which will be applied according to the criteria of expert urologists. CMDA offers an accurate diagnostic of two different treatments, which are:
Diagnostic – Prostate Biopsy by Image Fusion
CMDA, with “state of the art” equipment – 3Tesla MRI General Electric, can offer multiparametric MR imaging. It shows the areas with injured tissues in the prostate clearer than any other imaging diagnostic tool. At the time of performing the biopsy, the urologist will work with the radiologist, they will fusion the images obtained from the MRI, in real time, with the images of an ultrasound, and then perform a biopsy exclusively in the areas were they know is affected tissue. With this technique, the urologist will do less punctures, but the degree of hitting the right cells to be analyzed will increase from 40% to 90%.
No Hospitalization Required- This procedure is performed as an outpatient and no hospitalization is required. The patient could visit the urologist again, in 24/48 hours to make sure that there is not bleeding, and the results of the biopsy, by the pathologist, would be ready in 10/15 days, in accordance with the complexity of the case.
Cost of the Treatment- The total cost of the biopsy, with 3 Tesla Multiparametric MRI, biopsy guided by ultrasound, performed by the urologist and the radiologist, and the pathology study of the tissues obtained, is €2,350, which is around $2,700. Travel fees to Barcelona and hotel stay before and after biopsy are excluded from the price.
Treatment A – HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) Prostate Ablation
In some cases, and always following the urologist recommendation, this technique can be applied in the prostate cancer treatment. HIFU is a technique which high frequency waves energy heats cancer cells and destroy them using high intensity sounds beams that are well oriented and focused to modify or destroy damaged tissues. The treatment is performed, using “real time” MRI images, produced by a high definition 3 Tesla MRI equipment. Those images show the precise spot, where cancer cells are located, and with the focused ultrasound waves, those cells are heated-up and destroyed. The MRI images, also help in measuring the temperature that those cells are achieving, to make sure they are destroyed.This technique can also be applied in the treatment of prostate hyperplasia non-cancerous.
How the Treatment is Done- The treatment is done by trans-urethral technique, what makes it minimally invasive, safe and painless, and for those reasons it can be performed as an out-patient, which makes the recovery period, for the patient, much faster than conventional surgery, and with minimal secondary effects.
As a preventive measure, after the treatment is performed in our medical center, the patient will be transferred to a close-by private hospital, to spend one night under observation, and the next morning the urologist will see and discharge the patient. At this point, the patient can go back to the hotel and/or spend some time visiting Barcelona.
In the case the patient wants an earlier return to his country of origin, if there is a good communication between our urologist and the patient urologist, the stitches and the catheter can be removed by his home urologist, and in this case the patient can return to his country 48/72 hours after being discharged from the hospital.
Cost of the Treatment- The total cost of the procedure that includes: pre-testing in Barcelona, urologist’s visit, radiologist’s visits, full HIFU treatment and one night hospitalization, is €21,200, which is $24,300 approximately. Here also, travel fees to Barcelona and hotel stay before and after the treatment are not included.
Treatment B – Robotic DaVinci Surgery
At the present time, the radical prostatectomy assisted by “robot” (RRP), is the more advanced technique in the treatment of the prostate cancer. CMDA has a “State of the Art” robot DaVinci X to perform those procedures.
How the Treatment is Done- The surgeon makes small incisions in the patient lower abdomen to introduce the four robotic arms of the DaVinci robot, and one more to insert the high definition 3D camera that will provide him with a view of the surgical field, with sever enlargements for a more easy operation.To remove the prostate, the surgeon sits at a console, from which controls the movements of the robotic arms, viewing the surgical field in a high definition 3D immersive screen. The computer-assisted system allows a more precise response to movement of the surgeon's hands, and enhances the vision of the surgical field through its 3D high definition viewing system.
Unlike laparoscopic surgery, DaVinci Surgical Systems instruments used in robotic prostatectomy can turn in all directions with 90 degrees of articulation and 7 degrees of freedom. During robotic prostate surgery the DaVinci robot provides the surgeon with improved visualization, dexterity, and precision compared with open or laparoscopic surgery, while enabling operation through 1-2 cm incisions. This allows our surgeons to perform fine computer-controlled movements and more precise and minimally invasive robotic prostatectomy. During this prostate cancer treatment, patients’ delicate prostate nerves that control bladder and sexual function can be better spared than any other technique. Robotic prostatectomy achieves the same or better oncological results than a surgeon’s own hands or laparoscopic surgery.
In a DaVinci prostatectomy the entire prostate and seminal vesicles are removed, and if necessary, the surrounding tissues as well. The chances of impotency and incontinence are brought down to a minimum with this treatment over more conventional procedures.
What Information Patients Need to Provide?
CMDA requests the patients to submit a pack of information, if available, beforetraveling to Spain. The information may include but not exclusive of, PSA analysis, MRI Images and report, biopsy results, and more if available. Their urologist’s team coordinator will evaluate the information provided, to make an initial triage to asses if the patient is a good candidate for the robot approach.
If the patient is a good candidate, he will be asked to come to Barcelona for a doctor’s pre-surgical evaluation, and any additional tests that may be considered necessary. If everything is clear, surgery will be immediately scheduled in a prestigious private hospital in Barcelona. The hospital stay will be three days. After discharge, the patient will be requested to come back to the doctor’s office, for a post-surgical evaluation, in a week, and a week later, a final visit. In this last visit the urinary catheter and stitches will be removed, and the patient will be “feet to fly” next day. The total minimum time required to stay in Barcelona, will be three weeks. Once the patient is back to his country, follow-up evaluations by his urologist will be recommended.
In the case the patient wants an earlier return to his country of origin, if there is a good communication between our urologist and the patient urologist, the stitches and the catheter can be removed by his home urologist, and in this case the patient can return to his country 48/72 hours after being discharged from the hospital.
Cost of the Procedure- The total cost of the procedure that includes: pre-testing in Barcelona, urologist’s evaluation, surgical procedure (hospital stay, medical staff, DaVinci robot utilization, etc.) and post-surgical evaluation €24,700, which is $28,300. The travel fees to Barcelona and hotel stay before and after surgery will not be included.
CMDA brings the best of prostate cancer treatments using state-of-the-art technology and the skills of the expert doctors. To learn more about the treatments, please click the button below:
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