– Says Dr.N. Kuppurajan, KMCH.
“Health is wealth” a well heard saying. However, now-a-days the trend has changed and majority of the people are making wealth out of people’s health.
Ever since the Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital, better known as KMCH came into existance, it continues to offer world-class health services with its team of specialists and state-of-the-art infrastructure at an affordable cost.
KMCH has a reputation of treating various disorder and diseases and this hospital has made an immense contribution in the field of organ donation too.
Dr.N.Kuppurajan, the consultant urologist & laparoscopic (minimal invasive surgery) urological surgeon has special interests in treating kidney, prostrate and bladder cancer, has been in service with KMCH close to a decade.
During his consultation, he speaks to us about how Robotic Surgery continues to play a significant role in treating prostate cancer. Here are the excerpts.
How do we introduce you to our readers?
Dr. N Kuppurajan: I completed my training in laparoscopic surgery in the UK in 2004 and as a surgeon I realized that Robotic Surgery can go a long way in treating various forms of cancer effectively in both men and women.
The sub-specialisation of uro-oncology (treating kidney, prostate and bladder cancer) also happened in the UK. In 2009. I joined KMCH and started practising as a consultant urologist and laparoscopic surgeon. Later I underwent console training for Robotic Surgery and now it has been a year at KMCH that I started performing robotic surgeries, especially when its a case of prostate cancer.
How important is diagnosing prostate cancer at any early stage and can you educate us on how it can be treated?
Dr. N Kuppurajan: The most unique form of cancer that affects men is prostate cancer. This is where the Robotic Surgery makes a huge difference. In west, people who were diagnosed of prostate cancer at earlier stage always had their surgeries through Robotic system and are pretty doing well.
In the west 90% to 95% patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early stage & they were treated on time. Back in India, only 10% to 15% of patients are diagnosed of prostate cancer when this disease is in its early stage.
For a majority of patients who are suffering from prostate cancer this disease are diagnosed when it is in its advanced stage and by then all that doctors can do is to just keep the patient comfortable. Thus, one must not ignore the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer.
What are the signs and symptoms that one needs to watch out for prostate cancer?
Dr.N.Kuppurajan: Indians in general are considered as low risk patients as far as prostate cancer is concerned. However, one must not ignore the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer. This is a genetic disease and only 5% to 10% of Indian men have chances of developing prostate cancer.
Men who are over 55 years of age who experience trouble in urinating, (for a couple of weeks) such as waking up in the middle of the night to urinate, passing urine many times during the day and if men experience difficulty in passing urine, they must necessarily do the PSA blood test that helps in diagnosing prostate cancer in its early stage.
Depending on the blood test reports the patient who is diagnosed with prostate cancer can be treated using robotic procedure or radiotherapy.
Dr.N.Kuppurajan sees patients between 9.00am and 5.00 pm. For an appointment call +422 4323800 or 4323224.