New Scan-Based Risk Groups Help Predict Prostate Cancer Survival Better
New Scan-Based Risk Groups Help Predict Prostate…
SF-203 (Second Floor), Olive Greens, Sarkhej - Gandhinagar
Hwy, Gota, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India 382481
Plot No. 1 A, Apollo Hospital International Limited, GIDC Bhat, Industrial Estate, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382428
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These pages explain the choices at each stage of prostate cancer.
Dr Swati Shah, MS, DrNB (Surgical Oncology), performs prostate cancer surgery at Apollo Hospital, Bhat, Gandhinagar.
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Last updated: 5 October 2026
Part of Dr Swati Shah's uro-oncology service. This page covers prostate cancer surgery. Dr Swati Shah is a uro-oncologist: she operates on cancers of the kidney, bladder, prostate, testis and penis, and does not treat stones or other non-cancer urology. See every urological cancer she treats: Uro-oncologist in Ahmedabad.
Dr Swati Shah has performed 627 robotic radical prostatectomies (650 radical prostatectomies in all, 23 of them open) and has operated at the robotic console since 2013. She has 18 years of experience and has treated prostate cancer since 2008. She trained for three years in surgical oncology (DrNB) under a senior uro-oncologist at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, New Delhi, and has practised in Gujarat since 2016.
Dr Swati Shah began robotic prostatectomy at the console in 2013. The first surgical robot in Ahmedabad was installed in 2016, the year she started practice in Gujarat, so she came to the city with three years of robotic prostate surgery already behind her.
Training at one of India's highest-volume prostate cancer centres, directly under the surgeon who built that work, is what shapes how Dr Swati Shah understands and manages prostate cancer in Indian patients.
In Gujarat since 2016, her practice has been uro-oncology, mainly prostate cancer and robotic surgery. In her words:
"I have been involved in management of prostate cancer since 2008. Since 2013, my practice has had a major focus on uro-oncology and robotic prostate surgery. Robotic prostate surgery forms a major proportion of my robotic uro-oncology practice."
Dr Swati Shah
Her particular focus: uro-oncology, robotic prostate cancer surgery, robotic radical prostatectomy and complex pelvic cancer surgery. The prostate cancers she manages:
These are Dr Swati Shah's own figures from her analysed data on radical prostatectomy, with a median follow-up of 60 months. They describe her patients as a group. Your own result depends on the stage and grade of your cancer, and she will discuss it for your case.
| Parameter | Dr Swati Shah's data |
|---|---|
| Total radical prostatectomies | 650 |
| Robotic radical prostatectomies | 627 |
| Open radical prostatectomies | 23 |
| Performing robotic prostatectomy | Since 2013 |
| Nerve-sparing on both sides | 50% |
| Nerve-sparing on one side | 20% |
| No nerve-sparing | 30% |
| Pelvic lymph-node dissection done | 95% |
| Average lymph nodes removed | 15 |
| Positive surgical margins | 10% |
| pT2 (cancer inside the prostate) | 40% |
| pT3 (cancer beyond the prostate capsule) | 55% |
| pN1 (cancer in lymph nodes) | 25% |
| Blood transfusion | 5% |
| Major complications | 2% |
| Readmission | 2% |
| Fully dry (0 pads) at 3 months | 90% |
| Fully dry (0 pads) at 6 months | 95% |
| Fully dry (0 pads) at 12 months | 99% |
| Blood loss during surgery | About 200 ml |
| Duration of surgery | 2 to 4 hours |
| Average hospital stay after surgery | 2.8 days |
| Biochemical recurrence (PSA rising again) | 20% |
| Median follow-up | 60 months |
Source: Dr Swati Shah's own surgical audit of radical prostatectomy. pT and pN are the final stage on the pathology report.
Last updated: 4 October 2026
Before choosing a surgeon for robotic radical prostatectomy, ask how many the surgeon has done personally, the margin and continence rates, how often nerves are spared and what happens after the pathology report. Dr Swati Shah answers each of these below.
| Question | Dr Swati Shah's answer |
|---|---|
| How many robotic radical prostatectomies have you personally performed? | 627 robotic radical prostatectomies, out of 650 radical prostatectomies in all (23 open). |
| What is your experience with nerve-sparing prostatectomy? | Well versed with the technique and uses it regularly. In her audit, nerves were spared on both sides in 50% and on one side in 20%. Watch the video below. |
| What are your positive surgical margin rates for comparable disease? | Similar to international standards. It depends on the stage of the cancer. On average 10%, so 90% are margin-negative. |
| What percentage of your patients achieve urinary continence at 3, 6 and 12 months? | 90%, 95% and 99% are fully dry (0 pads) at 3, 6 and 12 months. |
| What is your approach to erectile-function preservation? | The nerves are preserved as far as possible, as the extent of the cancer allows. |
| When do you perform pelvic lymph-node dissection? | In most cases: about 600 patients (95%), with an average of 15 lymph nodes removed. |
| Do you review PSMA PET/CT, MRI and biopsy together before surgery? | Yes, routinely. |
| Is the case discussed in a multidisciplinary prostate cancer team? | Yes. The team includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, an onco-pathologist, a radiologist, a nuclear medicine specialist and Dr Swati Shah. |
| Who performs the critical robotic steps? | Dr Swati Shah, personally. |
| What is the plan if pathology shows high-risk features or a positive margin? | Salvage radiotherapy when it is needed, rather than adjuvant (routine) radiotherapy for everyone. |
The types of prostate cancer she treats: early and localised, advanced, node-positive and complex prostate cancer, including patients with other illnesses.
This short video from Dr Swati Shah's own operations shows what nerve preservation is and how it is done. Look for these important steps:
Nerves are spared as far as the extent of the cancer allows. Removing the cancer completely always comes first.
Patient
Patient
We were looking for a reliable Doctor for guidance and surgery, where we came across and consulted Dr Swati Shah. She explained things thoroughly and also did the surgery very well. She is very talented surgeon and friendly to the patients. Thank you Dr Swati and the whole hospital staff for being friendly and determined throughout our stay.
Patient
In their videos and Google reviews, Dr Swati Shah's prostate cancer patients most often describe clear explanations before surgery, getting home within a few days, walking the next day and getting urine control back.
Watch the prostate cancer video testimonials and read the Google reviews from prostate cancer patients. Every patient's recovery is different; it depends on the cancer, the operation and the patient's own health.
Dr Swati Shah's short videos on prostate cancer surgery point to the fine technical details that decide continence and recovery:
| The Myth | The Fact |
|---|---|
| "I have no pain or trouble urinating, so I don't have cancer." | Fact: Early-stage prostate cancer is often "silent" and shows no symptoms. By the time pain or severe urinary issues appear, the cancer may have already spread. Regular PSA screening is the only way to catch it early. |
| "Prostate cancer is only a disease for very old men." | Fact: While risk increases with age, it is increasingly common in men in their 40s and 50s, especially those with a family history. Younger patients often have more aggressive types that require early intervention. |
| "A high PSA level always means I have cancer." | Fact: An elevated PSA can be caused by simple infections, an enlarged prostate (BPH), or even recent cycling. It is a "risk indicator," not a final diagnosis. Dr. Shah uses advanced imaging (MRI) to confirm if a biopsy is truly needed. |
| "Surgery will leave me with permanent urine leakage." | Fact: With modern Robotic-Assisted Surgery, Dr. Shah can precisely preserve the urinary sphincter. Most patients regain full control very quickly—often within days to a few weeks after the catheter is removed. |
| "If I get surgery, my sex life will be over." | Fact: Robotic technology allows for "Nerve-Sparing" techniques. By saving the delicate nerves responsible for erections, many patients can maintain their quality of life and intimacy after recovery. |
| "Prostate cancer is always a death sentence." | Fact: If caught early and treated with precision surgery, the 5-year survival rate is nearly 100%. It is one of the most curable forms of cancer when managed by an expert uro-oncologist. |
| Feature | Robotic-Assisted Surgery (Dr. Swati Shah) | Traditional Open Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Incision Size | 4–5 Tiny Keyholes (8mm each) | One Large Cut (6–8 inches) |
| Surgical Vision | 3D High-Definition (15x Zoom) | Naked Eye (2D View) |
| Blood Loss | Minimal (Rarely needs transfusion) | Moderate to High |
| Hospital Stay | 2–3 Days | 5–7 Days |
| Pain & Scarring | Very Low; Minimal Scars | High; Large Permanent Scar |
| Recovery Time | 2–3 Weeks | 6–8 Weeks |
| Nerve Sparing | Highly Precise (Better for Potency) | Less Precise |
Dr Swati Shah publishes about 30 detailed prostate cancer case summaries from her own practice. They are a record of real clinical work, not promotional testimonials.
Each summary, where available, gives the patient's presentation, tests before surgery, imaging, operative photographs, findings during the operation, hospital stay and recovery, the histopathology report and follow-up. Read them all: prostate cancer case summaries. More cases from all the cancers she treats are in the clinical case library.
| Age | When seen | Operation | Recorded result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | PSA 144.92 ng/ml, urinary urgency | Robotic radical prostatectomy, pelvic lymph-node dissection, nerves spared on one side | pT2N0, margins negative; 20 nodes removed; blood loss 150 ml; early urine control |
| 69 | Cancer found after a recent TURP (inflamed tissue planes) | Robotic radical prostatectomy with posterior (Rocco) reconstruction and pelvic nodes | pT3a, margins negative; 23 nodes, all negative; blood loss 100 ml; home on day 4 |
| 55 | PSA 20.98 ng/ml, Grade Group 3, 70% of the gland | Robotic radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph-node dissection | pT3bN0, margins negative; 18 nodes; blood loss 100 ml; urine control regained |
| 65 | Gleason 9, 70% of the gland; diabetes and high blood pressure | Robotic radical prostatectomy with extended pelvic and common iliac nodes | pT3b, margins negative; 18 nodes examined |
| 67 | PSA 13.02 ng/ml, Gleason 9, 5 cm tumour | Robotic radical prostatectomy, pelvic nodes, nerve preservation, posterior reconstruction | Blood loss 50 ml |
| 68 | cT3N+ after hormone treatment and a previous TURP | Robotic radical prostatectomy with pelvic and retroperitoneal node dissection | Cancer removed despite scarring from the earlier TURP; blood loss 400 ml, no transfusion |
| 80 | cT3N0 Gleason 7; urethral stricture | Robotic radical prostatectomy, pelvic and retroperitoneal nodes, stricture dilatation | Blood loss 100 ml, no transfusion; independent before and after surgery |
| 73 | Metastatic Gleason 9, PSA above 100 ng/ml, blocked urine | Channel TURP and bilateral orchidectomy (not a prostatectomy) | Urine flow restored and hormone control started: not every patient is treated by removing the prostate |
From Dr Swati Shah's published prostate cancer case summaries. pT and pN are the final stage on the pathology report; c means the stage from scans before surgery.
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Dr Swati Shah teaches robotic prostate surgery to urologists, presents her prostate cancer data at national meetings and is a director of two national multidisciplinary meetings on prostate cancer.
At these meetings she shows and discusses prostate cancer cases and their management. She also runs a robotic surgery training course for urologists.
Dr Swati Shah is a director of two national meetings she helped start, held in person and online:
| The Myth | The Fact |
|---|---|
| "The robot performs the surgery on its own." | Fact: The robot is 100% controlled by Dr. Swati Shah. It is a high-tech tool that translates her hand movements into micro-precise actions inside the body; it cannot move or make decisions without her. |
| "Robotic surgery is only for young people." | Fact: Age is not a barrier. Because robotic surgery involves less blood loss and smaller incisions, it is often safer for elderly patients (even those in their 70s and 80s) compared to traditional open surgery. |
| "I will lose urinary control forever after surgery." | Fact: Modern robotic techniques allow for "Nerve-Sparing" and "Sphincter Preservation." Most patients regain full urinary control much faster than with traditional surgery—often within weeks or even days. |
| "No symptoms mean I am cancer-free." | Fact: Early-stage prostate cancer is "silent" and rarely shows symptoms. Regular PSA blood tests are the only way to catch it early when it is 100% curable. |
| "Robotic surgery is experimental and risky." | Fact: Robotic surgery is the global "Gold Standard" for prostate cancer. It is a proven, FDA-approved technology that significantly reduces the risk of infection and complications compared to open surgery. |
A good prostate cancer centre has a dedicated uro-oncology team, full diagnostics, every surgical, radiation and drug option, a multidisciplinary team, and transparent, documented outcomes with long-term follow-up.
Robotic surgery is not defined only by the use of a robotic system. A quality robotic radical prostatectomy aims to achieve the right balance between cancer control, functional preservation and patient safety. Key parameters:
So the quality of a robotic prostatectomy should be judged by outcomes and long-term follow-up, not simply by the number of robotic operations performed. Dr Swati Shah's own figures for each of these are in her audit table above.
If you feel a weak urine stream, have to wake up many times at night to pee, or feel your bladder isn't empty even after urinating, your prostate might be enlarged. While these are common as men age, you should get checked to make sure it is not something more serious like cancer.
For early-stage cancer, there are three main paths: active surveillance (close monitoring with regular PSA tests and biopsies, which avoids the immediate side effects of treatment), radiation (high-energy beams, no operation, effective for localised tumours) or robotic surgery (removal of the prostate by Dr Swati Shah). Many patients choose robotic surgery because it removes the prostate with the cancer and aims to keep normal urine and sexual control.
Diagnosis starts with a simple PSA blood test and an MRI scan. If these show a risk, a specialised biopsy is done to confirm. Apollo Hospital in Ahmedabad offers a one-stop setup for all these tests, including advanced scans like PSMA PET. Dr Swati Shah reviews the PSMA PET/CT, MRI and biopsy together before surgery.
Dr Swati Shah has performed 627 robotic radical prostatectomies, out of 650 radical prostatectomies in all (23 open). She has operated robotically since 2013 and has 18 years of experience.
Dr Swati Shah did her MBBS and MS (General Surgery) at Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, then three years of DrNB (Surgical Oncology) under a senior uro-oncologist at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, New Delhi. She has worked at the robotic console since 2013 and in Gujarat since 2016.
Cancer treatment can be expensive, but help is available through government schemes like Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Many NGOs and medicine companies also offer patient assistance programs to provide life-saving drugs at a much lower cost for those in need.
Radiation uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells without surgery. Modern types like IMRT and SBRT are very precise, targeting only the tumour to protect the surrounding healthy organs like the bladder and rectum.
Hormone therapy lowers testosterone to stop cancer growth, which can cause hot flashes (feeling sudden heat), tiredness, or a lower drive for intimacy. Dr Swati Shah provides a support plan to manage these symptoms so you can continue your daily life comfortably.
Most patients are up and walking the very next day. In Dr Swati Shah's audit the average hospital stay after robotic radical prostatectomy is 2.8 days, and most patients return to light office work within about 2 weeks.
The cost depends on the hospital and room you choose, how long you stay, and the extent of the operation, for example whether lymph nodes are removed. Dr Swati Shah's team gives you an estimate after the consultation, and most health insurance covers the operation.
Ask any surgeon for their own figures. In Dr Swati Shah's own audit of 650 radical prostatectomies, 10% had positive surgical margins, 90%, 95% and 99% of men were fully dry at 3, 6 and 12 months, major complications were 2%, and PSA rose again in 20% over a median follow-up of 60 months.
Dr Swati Shah's prostate cancer patients rate her highly on Google. They most often mention clear explanations, complete removal of the cancer and getting urine control back. Read the Google reviews from prostate cancer patients and watch the video testimonials.
Yes, most private health insurance and TPA providers cover robotic radical prostatectomy because it is a medically necessary cancer treatment. Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad, where Dr Swati Shah performs these procedures, accepts a wide range of insurance panels. For accepted insurers and the cashless process, see cashless cancer treatment details.
Not the robot alone. A quality robotic radical prostatectomy balances cancer control (margins and lymph nodes), functional preservation (continence and, where safe, sexual function), surgical precision, safety and recovery, and it is judged by outcomes and long-term follow-up rather than by the number of robotic operations.
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