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Men who
have nerve-sparing surgery for localized prostate cancer --
a technique that enhances their chances of having erections
again following the operation -- are not at increased risk
of cancer recurrence, according to University of Miami researchers.
The researchers
reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on their study
of 734 men who underwent radical prostatectomies between 1992
and February 2000. The nerve-sparing technique -- in which
surgeons do not remove the bundles of nerves on either side
of the prostate gland if they appear to be cancer free --
was used for one-third of the patients.
The researchers
reported that the risk of prostate cancer recurrence within
three years of surgery was 9.7 percent in those who had never-sparing
surgery compared to 17.1 percent for non-nerve-sparing patients.
The cumulative risk of recurrence within 5 years was 14.4
percent in never-sparing patients compared to 21.1 percent.
"In
patients with localized prostate cancer, neither margin status
nor biochemical-free survival within 5 years of surgery were
altered by the nerve preservation technique," Dr. Mark
S. Soloway and colleagues concluded. "Given our experience,
we recommend preservation of neurovascular bundles in these
patients whenever the procedure is technically feasible."
Source:
Prostate Cancer
Week of March 31, 2002
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