Open vs. Laparoscopic

Good luck on Nov 4th, Rick. For what it's worth, I think you made a good decision.

They say you should pick your surgeon, not your surgical method. If you like and trust this guy, then let him do what he does best.

I wanted robotic surgery, but I've got a great doc who prefers open. I'm seeing him in the morning to ask a few more questions and schedule a surgery. I may be joining you on the November list.

Jonathan

As a robotic-surgery patient, let me add a few comments:
(1) Surgeon experiences are paramount, as everyone says.
(2) If you have Gleason 6 localized PC, either would serve.
(3) Short term effects are more serious for open--longer hospital
stay, higher chance of needing blood transfusion (some say 20%
for open), and probably longer recovery time. I recover well,
playing tennis within 3 months.
(4) Long term effects, AFAIK, are comparable--note that incontinence
and ED can be long standing (Consumer's report on health claims
14% leaks>1 per day after 2 years--I'm leaking small amounts after 1 year). --
see Consumer's report on health Oct 2010 issue.
(5) If you have more advanced cancer (Gleason 7=4+3 or above,
T3, etc.) I would go for open, as it is more likely that nearby
tumor can be found--that also depend on the skill of the surgeon.
Unfortunately, I did not, and my PSA never went down even after
the surgery (would not know if it would have been better off if
I have chosen open--perhaps not).
(6) BTW, treatment that ONLY target the prostate (such as proton)
is now ONLY recommended for localized PC --gleason 6/T1.
(7) Other radiation treatments (RAD/beam or seeds) does damage nearby
tissues (and perhaps kill nearby tumors also)--but that is also
likely to result in more BM problems (CR says 8-11% for SEEDS/RAD
than 1% for SUR)