Robotic Prostatectomy the Right Choice for Old Bridge, NJ, Man

“It’s an ugly demon that steals your hopes, pride and everything from you. You’ve got to fight. It's a constant daily fight until you beat it, and you haven't beaten it until five years out,” says Mike.

Thanks to the support and care he received from his care team at JFK University Medical Center—and his fighting spirit—Mike, who lives in Old Bridge, New Jersey, with his wife, will celebrate his five-year anniversary of being cancer-free this year.

PSA Levels Rising

In 2017, Mike’s family doctor became concerned that his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels—tested regularly to screen for prostate cancer—were quickly increasing. “It wasn't so much just the fact that it had gotten high; it was how quickly it had gotten high,” says Mike. His doctor recommended he see urologist Michael S. Lasser, M.D., director of Robotic Surgery at JFK.

After a biopsy and more tests, Dr. Lasser confirmed that Mike had intermediate-risk prostate cancer. They discussed treatment options and the risks involved with each:

• Active surveillance, where the cancer is monitored closely
• Radiation, which is often combined with hormone therapy
• Surgery to remove the prostate

“I didn't want to take the chance of having any problems down the line, so I chose to have it robotically completely removed,” says Mike, who appreciates how Dr. Lasser helped him understand his options. “He’s a great doctor. He’s very easy to talk with and very candid. I prefer that.”

A Very Good Choice

Dr. Lasser performed a prostatectomy—complete removal of the prostate—using a surgical robotic system. “When we remove the prostate, we're basically disconnecting the bladder from the urethra or the urinary tract. Once the prostate is removed, we put everything back together in a reconstructive manner with the robot,” says Dr. Lasser.

Mike also had lymph nodes removed during the surgery, which showed no spread of his cancer. But further testing of his tumor upgraded the severity of his cancer to high risk.

“Mike made a very good choice choosing surgery because he had worse cancer than we thought, and we never would have known had we not taken his prostate out,” says Dr. Lasser. “Luckily he had negative margins, which means there was no cancer left behind.”

The Importance of Early Detection

Mike hasn’t needed any additional treatment and his PSA levels—checked every three months initially to monitor for prostate cancer recurrence—are normal.

Mike’s experience has made him a big believer in the importance of early cancer detection: “Having my PSA tracked is what gave me the notification that something was going on. Early detection is the way to go.”

Prompted by his cancer diagnosis and treatment, Mike has started a new career as a medical assistant. “Early on, I wanted to be in the medical field, but I just didn’t head that way. When I got laid off from my job, I saw the opportunity,” he says.

Now, as a medical assistant at a family practice in Red Bank, he’s able to help others facing health issues and talk to them about his own experience fighting and winning the big fight.

“I'm coming up on my five-year anniversary of being cancer-free. It feels good. My daughter just got married in June, so I was happy to walk her down the aisle. I’m glad that I could be there for that,” he says.

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Michael Lasser, M.D.
• To make an appointment with a urologist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.