Game-changing telesurgery for prostate cancer

Paul’s life changed overnight with a prostate cancer diagnosis. When given the chance to undergo pioneering long-distance robotic surgery, he didn’t hesitate, choosing to put his trust in an innovative new approach. He shares his story below.

“I’d started gradually losing weight over several months, but I led a very active life, so I wasn’t concerned,” Paul tells MedTech Views. “Then I went on a holiday where I didn’t hold back at all with the food and drink. When I came home, I weighed myself and had lost two kilograms. That’s when I decided to see my doctor.”

Paul’s doctor suspected diabetes or a thyroid issue. “He ordered tests for those and said that while I was there, I might as well also get my PSA levels tested.” A PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test uses medtech to measure the amount of protein produced by the prostate, a walnut-sized gland in a biological male’s reproductive system located just below the bladder. Raised levels can indicate a potential problem like prostate cancer.

“My PSA came back a bit high, so my doctor thought it would be sensible to have a scan. I was booked in for an MRI the day after Christmas,” Paul remembers. “Four days later, I found out that there were two small tumours on my prostate. The urologist said there was a 60% chance it was cancer. Fortunately, I was able to have a biopsy the same day, but it was all such a surprise. Less than a week later, I got the call confirming that it was prostate cancer,” Paul says.

Paul’s treatment options included radiotherapy or robot-assisted (robotic) surgery to remove his prostate (prostatectomy). The offer of surgery came with an unexpected twist: The surgeon would be performing the operation remotely from London, while Paul was 2,400 km away in a Gibraltar hospital, where they didn’t have the set-up or tech to perform the surgery on their own.

“The surgeon explained that while robotic surgery was common, long-distance surgery had only been done a couple of times in Europe, and I would be the first patient in the UK to have it,” notes Paul. “After a week of doing my own research and discussing the options with my family, I decided to go for the telesurgery.”

Robotic surgery has been around since the 2000s but doing it long-distance is relatively new. During Paul’s procedure, the surgeon used a 3-dimensional, high-definition magnified camera, together with four remotely controlled robotic arms offering greater precision than traditional surgery. This allowed for better identification and preservation of the surrounding nerves and muscles that controlled his erectile and urinary function. The connection from London to Gibraltar was enabled through fibre-optic cables, supported by a backup 5G link.

“The surgery took four hours and the whole experience was incredible. I was home within two days and had my catheter out after 10 days. It went so fast that I don’t feel like I’ve had major surgery,” says Paul. “It was just over a month from my diagnosis to surgery. I’ve had operations in the past and this was smoother with a faster recovery time and no pain. By Day 4, I was washing pots and pans in my kitchen. Not having to travel to London or Spain for treatment removed so much of the mental stress. I’m so glad I did it.”

Paul is keen to support others who have received a diagnosis, volunteering for the charity Prostate Cancer Gibraltar and speaking openly about his experience to raise awareness.