Why your existing conditions matter for this operation
Robotic prostatectomy removes the prostate for selected prostate cancers, and the surgeon controls robotic instruments rather than holding them directly. That technical description does not tell you whether the operation is right for you. Your other health conditions influence how the surgical team weighs the risks of anaesthesia, bleeding, infection, blood clots and recovery, and how they plan support before and after the operation.
This is why a robotic prostatectomy assessment in China is not simply a question of whether a robot is available. The treating hospital needs to understand your whole health picture: what conditions you have, how stable they are, which medicines you take, and whether any of those conditions could make surgery unsafe or change the timing. The hospital, not an enquiry service, makes that judgement.
A useful way to think about it: the cancer records tell the team what needs to be treated, and the general health records tell them whether and how it can be done safely. Missing either half leaves the assessment incomplete.
What to send first, and why each item changes the assessment
You do not need to send a complete medical archive at the first contact. A short summary is enough to start, and the team can then tell you what else is relevant. The most useful starting documents are the ones that answer three questions: what is the diagnosis, what is your current treatment, and what other conditions affect your fitness for surgery.
For the cancer side, the key records are the pathology report from your prostate biopsy, the Gleason score or grade group, the PSA results and any imaging such as MRI, bone scan or PSMA PET. These determine the clinical stage and whether the cancer appears confined to the prostate. The treating team will also want to know whether you have had any prior prostate surgery, radiotherapy or hormone treatment, because that changes the surgical plan.
For your existing conditions, the most useful items are a current problem list, a medicine list with doses, recent blood tests including kidney function and blood counts, and any heart or lung assessments. If you have diabetes, the team needs to know your recent control. If you have heart disease, they need the cardiology reports and whether you take blood thinners. If you have a bleeding disorder or a history of clots, that directly affects surgical planning.
Do not stop or change any medicine on your own before speaking to the treating team. Blood thinners, diabetes medicines and some heart medicines need specific instructions, and those instructions come from the clinicians managing your care, not from a coordination service.
- Cancer records: biopsy pathology report, Gleason score or grade group, PSA results, MRI or other staging imaging.
- Treatment history: previous prostate surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy or focal treatment.
- Existing conditions: a written problem list with how long each condition has been present and how stable it is.
- Medicines: a current list with drug names, doses and timing, including blood thinners and supplements.
- Recent tests: blood counts, kidney and liver function, blood sugar control, heart and lung assessments if available.
- Contact details for your current doctors, in case the treating team needs to clarify something.
How the team reviews cancer control and functional priorities together
Two conversations need to happen before surgery is confirmed. The first is about cancer control: what the operation is intended to achieve, what the pathology after surgery will show, and what additional treatment might be needed depending on the result. The second is about function: urinary control and sexual function after surgery, and how your existing conditions and current function affect those priorities.
These two conversations interact. A patient with significant heart or lung disease may need a different anaesthetic plan, a shorter operation or a staged approach. A patient with poorly controlled diabetes may need blood sugar optimisation before surgery because it affects wound healing and infection risk. A patient who already has urinary symptoms needs those assessed, because the operation can change them.
Ask the treating team directly how they weigh cancer control against functional outcomes in your case, and what the alternatives are. Depending on your cancer stage, grade and general health, active surveillance, radiotherapy or hormone treatment may be options. The hospital decides which apply to you; no article can make that decision.
You should also ask what the team's evidence-based estimates are for your situation, including the uncertainty around them. Clinicians can discuss risks and likely outcomes in general terms, but no estimate guarantees your individual result.
Catheter care, pathology review and follow-up: what to confirm
After robotic prostatectomy, a urinary catheter is normally needed for a period, and the treating team gives instructions on care, hygiene, activity and when it will be removed. The exact duration depends on the operation and your healing, and it is confirmed by the surgical team rather than assumed in advance. Ask who to contact if the catheter blocks, leaks or causes pain, and what warning signs require urgent review.
The prostate specimen is examined by a pathologist after surgery. That report gives the final cancer stage, the surgical margin status and the grade, and it may change what follow-up or additional treatment is recommended. Ask when and how the pathology result will be discussed with you, and whether a pathology review is needed if your original biopsy was done elsewhere.
Follow-up after surgery typically includes PSA monitoring and clinical review, but the schedule is set by the treating team based on your pathology and recovery. Ask how follow-up will be arranged if you return home, whether your local doctor can carry out the tests, and how results will be shared with the surgical team.
If you are travelling to China for surgery, ask how the hospital handles discharge planning, medication supply for the journey home, and who is responsible for any complications after you leave. These are practical questions with clinical implications, and the answers come from the treating team.
How to hand over your records clearly and safely
A clear handover reduces the risk of the treating team working from incomplete information. Organise your records by category rather than by date: diagnosis, staging, existing conditions, medicines, recent tests and contact details. Include a short cover note in English explaining your main question and what you want the team to assess.
If your records are in another language, ask whether the hospital needs certified translations or whether a summary is acceptable. Do not send original documents; send copies or scans. Keep a personal copy of everything you send, and note the date you sent it.
After the hospital reviews your records, ask what is still missing and what the next step is. A records-based review can clarify whether you are a potential candidate for robotic prostatectomy, but it does not establish final eligibility or hospital acceptance. Those decisions follow a fuller clinical assessment.
For a complex case, a multidisciplinary review involving urology and another relevant specialty may be arranged. The scope and fee are agreed first, and the review is optional rather than a prerequisite for every appointment.
What the hospital must confirm, and your next step
Several things cannot be settled by an article or an enquiry service. The hospital must confirm whether your existing conditions make robotic prostatectomy suitable, what preoperative optimisation is needed, what the anaesthetic plan will be, how long the catheter stays, what the pathology shows and how follow-up will work. Ask for these answers in writing where possible, and ask what is still undecided.
You can also ask how the hospital's written estimate is structured, what it includes and what remains to be confirmed, so there are no surprises later. Costs for hospital care, tests and medicines are paid to the hospital or relevant provider, and coordination fees are separate.
A practical next step is to prepare a short summary of your diagnosis, existing conditions, medicines and main question, then send it through the enquiry form, email or WhatsApp. An initial enquiry is free and does not require buying a proxy consultation. The team will check what you have sent, identify what is missing and suggest the relevant next step. If your symptoms worsen or you need urgent care, seek local medical attention first rather than waiting for an overseas reply.
Sources & scope of this guide
References and official service information relevant to this guide.
This is general planning information and has not been individually reviewed by a doctor. Medical decisions and personal treatment advice come from your treating clinicians.