Innovative Approaches to Prostate Cancer Treatment at Korea University Ansan Hospital

Professor Jae-young Park, of the department of urology of the Korea University Ansan Hospital, developed a calculator that can accurately predict high-risk prostate cancer for Koreans in 2017. In combination with PSA tests, it minimized overdiagnosis and overtreatment. According to Prof. Park, the calculator can select patients who need biopsy by examining six risk factors and then detect and treat only clinically significant cancers.

The Korea University Ansan Hospital considers optimal treatment not only in diagnosis but also in the course of treatment. Prostate cancer is categorized based on the risks, and if the risk is low, only PSA tests are conducted every three months. Patients with underlying diseases who are unsuitable for anesthesia or operations are usually recommended radiotherapy and patients with progressive or high-risk prostate cancer receive complex treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, and hormone suppression therapy.

"Some hospitals recommend surgery regardless of the severity of the disease, but our hospitals are implementing the most appropriate treatment for patients based on the latest medical guidelines that take into account the life expectancy and general condition," said Professor Park Jae Young.

While in operation, robotic surgery is performed to minimize complications such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. "In the case of prostate cancer surgery, it is important to connect bladder and urethra well after nerve-sparing of sphincter and erection and entire prostatectomy, and Robot surgery can perform an operation with surgical precision and 10 times more magnified vision, and bring quick recovery due to a small incision," Professor Park Jae-Young explained. "Most of all, robotic surgery is optimized for prostate surgery, locating deep in the pelvis, and lately, the operation is becoming common enough to have robots perform more than half of prostate cancer surgery," he added. "If surgery is necessary, getting it done immediately will help the quality of life in the future."