Urologic Surgeon Illia Zeltzer Brings Minimally Invasive Treatment for Testicular Cancer to Philadelphia Region
Ilia S. Zeltser, MD
, Urologic Surgeon with Bryn Mawr Urology Group, a division of Academic Urology of Pennsylvania
is among an elite group of
physicians nationwide and the only in the Philadelphia region
performing laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection, a safe
and effective way to treat testicular cancer, as well as help establish
its exact stage and type, with less pain and faster recovery when
compared to traditional surgical procedures.
“The incidence of testicular
cancer is on the rise making it the most common cancer in men between
the ages of fifteen and thirty-four,” said Dr. Zeltser. “Fortunately,
it is highly treatable, even when the cancer has spread beyond the
testicle.”
Treatment for testicular
cancer typically involves the surgical removal of the affected
testicle. In some cases when the cancer has spread or has a high risk
of spreading, the surgeon may also remove the lymph nodes in the chest
area in a procedure called retroperitoneal lymph node dissection
(RPLND).
As Dr. Zeltser explains, the
standard way of doing RPLND involves a large incision that extends from
the chest to several inches below the belly button. Laparoscopic RPLND
is a new technique which uses several small incisions to perform the
surgery. This approach is much less invasive, which results in less
pain, scarring, infection, and recovery time.
Although this procedure has proven safe and highly effective in treating testicular cancer, as in any surgery there are risks
such as bleeding and potential sexual side effects that could affect fertility.
Ultimately, the most successful treatment for testicular cancer is early detection. Dr. Zeltser recommends that young men
should learn to perform self-examination (TSE) shortly after puberty.
“Self-examination performed on a monthly basis plays a major role in detecting tumors at earlier stages -- before they spread,”
said Dr. Zeltser.
Dr.
Zeltser is an expert in minimally invasive urologic surgical techniques.
For
more information visit the website or call to make an appointment [p] 610-525-6580
Bryn Mawr Urology Group
Rosemont Business Campus
Building One, Suite 300
919 Conestoga Road
Rosemont, Pa 19010
[p] 610-525-6580