Japanese Emperor Undergoes 1)Prostate Cancer Surgery

Broadcast: Jan 18, 2003

 

Japan's Emperor Akihito has undergone surgery for prostate cancer. His surgeons say the ²⁾prognosis for a full recovery look good.

Doctors who performed the procedure Saturday at University of Tokyo hospital said they expect Emperor Akihito to make a full recovery. The 69 year old Emperor Akihito was ³⁾diagnosed with prostate cancer last month and surgeons say there is no evidence the cancer has spread. It is the first time a Japanese monarch¹ has undergone surgery outside the Imperial Household hospital. The emperor's wife, Empress Michiko, and their youngest daughter, Princess Sayako, were at the hospital during the operation.

In the United States, prostate cancer surgery is a fairly routine procedure often performed by a urologist. A seven doctor team of ⁴⁾urologists and cancer specialists from the University of Tokyo and Japan's National Cancer Center performed the emperor's surgery.

Emperor Akihito is expected to remain in the hospital for a one month ^5）recuperation. Patients in Japan often remain hospitalized for lengthier² periods than those in the United State.

Though the Imperial Household Agency did not offer additional comment about Saturday's surgery, this is the first time it shared information with the public, breaking with the traditional secrecy³ surrounding the Japanese royal family's health. When Akihito's father, the late Emperor Hirohito, was suffering from ⁶⁾intestinal cancer in 1989, the Imperial Household Agency said he had an ulcer⁴, and waited until after his death to disclose the nature of his illness.

Until recently, Japanese doctors often would not tell their patients when they had cancer because they thought it would destroy their will to live.

By midday Saturday, hundreds of people had signed official books at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to wish for Emperor Akihito's recovery. Some 6,300 others have registered at various locations across Japan since the emperor was hospitalized Thursday.

The emperor's son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will perform his father's official duties during the recovery period.

Steve Shayman for VOA news, Tokyo.

 

1)    Prostate Cancer Surgery前列腺癌症手术

2)    prognosis [prC^5nEusis]n.预后

3)    diagnose [5daiE^nEuz] v. [医]诊断,

4)    urologist [juE5rClEdVist]n.[医]泌尿科医生

5)    recuperation [ri5kju:pEreitFEn] n.恢复

6)    intestinal cancer肠道癌

1 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

2 lengthier   

adj.长的，漫长的，啰嗦的( lengthy的比较级 )

参考例句：

3 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

4 ulcer   

n.溃疡，腐坏物

参考例句：

• She had an ulcer in her mouth.她口腔出现溃疡。
• A bacterium is identified as the cause for his duodenal ulcer.一种细菌被断定为造成他十二指肠溃疡的根源。