Sam Dick: Robotic Surgery

Sam Dick, 54, a television news anchor in Lexington, Ky., had just watched his father die from prostate cancer when he got the news last fall that he had the disease.

He and his wife wanted a cure and decided that surgery was the best option.

They learned from online research and conversations with physicians that the less invasive robotic-assisted surgery offered an easier recovery than open surgery, and had slightly better outcomes – and that the outcomes of either type of surgery depended heavily on
the skill of the surgeon.

Dick found his way to Joseph Smith, M.D., one of the world’s most experienced surgeons at robotic-assisted prostatectomies – Smith has performed more than 3,000 of the procedures.

A triathlete and half-marathoner, Dick was back in training five weeks after surgery. He attributes his quick recovery to his pre-surgery fitness.

His advice: “Do your research, talk to more than one doctor, reach out to people who have been through it, try to be as calm as you can, and know that people may not agree with the treatment you choose.

“What works for me may not work for everyone else, but I am convinced I made the right decision.”

Photo(s) By: Photo by John Russell