After reviewing treatment options with his urologist, Aaron decided on surgery. “I then asked my urologist who he would go to for surgery if he was me,” Aaron adds.
His urologist recommended Jonathan Hwang, MD, chair, of Urologic Oncology and Robotic Prostatectomy at MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, who is noted for his extensive experience.
“I had already done some research and had read an article about Dr. Hwang, in which he was highly praised,” says Aaron. “So that reinforced my decision as to who to go to for treatment.”
Dr. Hwang specializes in minimally invasive robotic surgery using the da Vinci® robotic surgical system and has performed over 3,200 robotic prostatectomies, more than any other urologic surgeon in the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia region. Under his leadership, MedStar Washington has received America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery Award by Healthgrades in 2022.
A robotic prostatectomy is performed through small incisions in the abdomen, where the surgeon inserts tiny instruments. The robot’s movements mimic the human wrist but with greater dexterity, and its small camera provides a 3-D, magnified view of the prostate and surrounding tissue. Using a console to guide these instruments with extreme precision, the surgeon removes the prostate with minimal disruption to the surrounding healthy nerves and tissue that support normal urination and erection.
“I set up an appointment with Dr. Hwang, and am so glad I did,” Aaron says. “Words cannot explain the professionalism and genuine compassion, he always showed. From day one, everyone I met who knew of him spoke highly of him. On more than one occasion, I was told by his colleagues and other members of the medical staff at the hospital, how lucky I was to have him as my surgeon.”
Aaron scheduled his procedure…a nerve-sparing robotic prostatectomy…with Dr. Hwang, and all went well. “I was discharged the day after surgery and needed no further treatment,” Aaron notes. “There is no cancer in my system, and my PSA levels are undetectable.”
Three weeks after his surgery, he was also able to return to the gym, where the senior bodybuilder works out with a personal trainer 4 days a week. “I eat well and get plenty of exercise, so that had a lot to do with my successful recovery,” Aaron notes. “But the care I received from Dr. Hwang was what made all the difference. I literally feel like he saved my life. I was treated like family. I highly recommend him and his team to anyone in need of urologic care.”