John Muir Health logo
  • Patients
    About MyChart
    Locating Patients
    Medicare
    New Patients
    Payment & Insurance
    Physician Open Payments Notice
    Preparing for Surgery
    Pre-Register for a Visit
    Registration & Forms
    Request a Health Record
    Security Center
    Video Visits
    Why Choose Us
  • Services
    Addiction Medicine
    Behavioral Health
    Cancer
    Cardiovascular Services
    Digestive Health
    Emergency Services
    Lab Services
    Medical Imaging
    Neurosciences
    Orthopedics
    Pediatrics
    Physical Rehabilitation
    Pregnancy & New Parent
    Primary Care
    Urgent Care
    ALL SERVICES
  • Education
    Classes, Screenings & Support Groups
    Clinical Trials
    Conditions & Treatments
    Health & Wellness
  • Health Professionals
    Careers
    Clinical Research
    Family Medicine Residency Program
    John Muir Medical Group
    Medical Staff
    Nursing
    Pharmacy Residency Program
    Resources
    Training & Education
    Video & Publication Center
  • About Us
    Annual Reports
    Awards & Recognition
    Board of Directors
    Community Commitment
    Employers, Brokers, & Health Plans
    Executive Team
    Make a Gift
    Mission & Vision
    Partnerships
    Media Center
MyChart Login
  • Find a location
  • Find a doctor
  • Pay a bill
  • Find a job
✕

Latest information on COVID-19 >

Urologic Cancer Surgery

  1. Home
  2. Services
  3. Cancer
  4. What We Treat
  5. Urologic Cancer Services
  6. Treatments
  7. Surgery
Treatments
  • Surgery
  • Systemic Treatments

Surgery Options

Nearly all of our prostate cancer surgeries and many of our kidney cancer surgeries are minimally invasive, leading to shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times, and less complications for our patients. For the surgical treatment of bladder and testicular cancer, we make every effort to preserve your urinary and sexual function while successfully removing the cancer.

John Muir Health was one of the first medical centers in California to offer robotic prostatectomies.

Prostate Cancer Surgical Option

Robotic Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy – John Muir Health is one of a few Bay Area medical institutions to offer this innovative minimally invasive surgical technique that improves the surgical outcome.

The surgeon removes all of the prostate gland through miniature incisions using the daVinci™ Surgical System, whose 3D high-definition magnification and robotic arms give the surgeon a very clear view of the surgical area and a better ability to manipulate the surgical instruments.

Kidney Cancer Surgical Options

Robotic Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy – Used for treating patients with early stage kidney cancer, this innovative procedure often allows us to save at least part of the patient’s kidney while successfully removing the cancer. In the past, even the excision of the smallest tumor required the removal of the entire kidney. This procedure, which is another one in which John Muir Health specializes, uses the same daVinci™ Surgical System that we use for the Robotic Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy.

Laparoscopic Nephrectomy – If the kidney cancer is in its advanced stages or has metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body, we often need to remove the entire kidney. However, we can still use the minimally invasive laparoscopic approach in which we use a camera-equipped scope and surgical instruments inserted through very small incisions, leading to a faster recovery time and fewer complications. If the cancer has metastasized, we often combine surgery with biologic agents to prevent the cancer from growing.

Bladder Cancer Surgical Options

Cystoscopy/Transurethral Resection – For superficial bladder cancer, this minimally invasive procedure uses the same camera-equipped cytoscope for treatment that is used for diagnosing. The cancer is treated via surgical instruments inserted through the cytoscope, or an electric probe that burns away the cancer. Following surgery, some patients may undergo a regimen of chemotherapy or biologic therapy.

Urinary Diversion Surgeries – For several patients who undergo bladder cancer surgery, John Muir Health offers two very advanced procedures for creating a replacement bladder, which allows patients to urinate without having to use an external collection bag.

Orthotopic Neobladder – If your urethra is spared during surgery, we may be able to fashion a replacement bladder sourcing the tissue from your intestine without affecting your bowel functions, then connecting the new (“neo”) bladder to your urethra, enabling you to urinate naturally.

Continent Cutaneous Diversion – If your urethra needs to be removed, this procedure allows you to store urine in a reservoir connected to the abdomen with a stoma, which is essentially an outlet. The patient empties the reservoir about five times a day by connecting a catheter or plastic tube to the stoma.

Testicular Cancer Surgical Options

Orchiectomy – For the treatment of testicular cancer, the surgeon removes the affected testicle and spermatic cord through the groin area rather than the scrotum to reduce the risk of spreading cancer through the scrotum’s loose skin. While surgery is always necessary for the treatment of testicular cancer, the unaffected testicle is not removed because the risk of cancer development is very low. This will leave you with adequate levels of male hormones and preserve your fertility.

Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection (RPLND) – If the testicular cancer has spread to lymph nodes, we use this procedure to remove them in the pelvis and lower abdomen. John Muir Health offers a nerve-sparing technique to help preserve ejaculatory function by sparing the associated nerve bundles during lymph node removal if the cancer has not spread too deep. A longer, more complex procedure than orchiectomy, RPLND is typically done at a later date.

Learn how we treat urologic and prostate cancer with radiation oncology

Hi! I'm here to help answer your questions.
Chat
ABOUT
About Us
Board of Directors
Executive Team
Awards & Recognition
Partnerships
Community Commitment
Employers, Brokers & Health Plans
NEWS & PRESS
Media Center
Annual Reports
GET INVOLVED
Careers
Volunteer
Make a Gift
CONTACT
Email Us
PRIVACY
Patient Privacy
Website Privacy
Terms of Use
Security Center
Follow Us

© John Muir Health All rights reserved.

John Muir Health is accredited by The Joint Commission. 

We use cookies to measure website traffic and personalize content for a better browsing experience. By using this website, you consent to our cookies. For more details, see our Website Privacy Policy.