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Radical Prostatectomy - An In Depth
Over of This Prostate Cancer Treatment

Who Else Wants to Discover the Benefits of Radical Prostatectomy?

Many men shudder at the mere mention of the term prostate surgery or radial prostatectomy.

But considering its long track record of eliminating prostate cancer completely, many guys are opting to go under the knife. Perhaps you'd like to better understand why if your PSA and subsequent biopsy results indicate a next step of some sort is called for.

Radical Prostatectomy Defined: A surgical procedure with the purpose of entirely removing the prostate and its surrounding tissue so as to eliminate the cancer the gland harbors.

How it works: Best done by an experienced surgeon who can extract the prostate that is tightly crammed into a space between the rectum and bladder surrounded by important nerves that affect bladder control and sexual function.

There are two ways to surgically approach the prostate.

One is referred to the retropubic approach. This way involves making an incision in the lower abdomen to get to the prostate

The other is a laparoscopic therapy (da vinci or robotic technique) which is considerably less invasive. It requires small slices in the abdomen so as to insert a camera and the surgical instruments.

In both the cases general and spinal anesthesia may be given.

Who best for: Best suited men with low grade cancers where the cancer cells are localized and have not spread to other parts of the body. This approach offers the hope of being completely cancer free for a minimum of 10 years at least.

Still it makes sense to thoroughly understand the pros and cons of this procedure.

Pros:
• This is a reasonable option for healthy men who have low grade cancer and a natural life expectancy of more than 10 years. The cancer is completely removed because the prostate is completely removed. Giving those who opt for this treatment a better than 90% chance of being cancer free for a minimum of 10 years. Or a better than good long term survival rate. With low odds of recurrence.

• If done by an experienced surgeon there is less risk of impotence as nerve sparing expertise can save the important surrounding nerves from damage.

• The operation is safe as surgical procedures go with a mortality rate below 1%.

Cons:
• The hospitalization stay and recovery is longer than other prostate cancer treatments. After the surgery the patient will have to spend a minimum of 4-5 days in hospital and until the urethra heals may require a catheter for a minimum of 3 weeks.

• The benefits come at a cost of post opt pain and possible side effects that may include impotence and urinary and fecal incontinence. Plus during and after surgery there are risks of complications like bleeding and infections. Your doctor can advise you of the percentage of risk in outcomes from the facility you're going to be treated in.

• There are lesser invasive methods like radiation and watchful waiting which may offer similar outcomes as surgery for slow growing, low grade cancers.

Summing it up: If you are the type who wants to "get it all out" then prostate surgery is for you. Though the operation is complicated it guarantees excellent results for low grade cancers. So you can walk out of the hospital free of cancer if you choose to go with this treatment.

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