Surgery for Prostate Cancer

Surgery for Prostate Cancer

What are the types of surgery that are used to treat prostate cancer?

There are three:

1. Radical prostatectomy : is a surgical procedure where the patient is put under with general anesthesia. This procedure requires the surgeon to make an incision in either the abdomen or the area of the scrotum. During the surgery the surgeon removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding lymph nodes. After the procedure is finished a catheter is placed through the penis and into the bladder to remove urine from the body until the area of the surgery heals (usually 2 to 3 weeks).

To be considered for this type of surgery you must be in overall good health and be able to undergo general anesthesia. Usually the hospital stay will last anywhere from 2 to 3 days. If you are working you will probably need to take a month off to recover after the surgery.
The number 1 advantage to having a radical prostatectomy is you can be sure that the tumor is gone after the surgery and you will be most likely cancer free.
Click here for more on Radical Prostatectomy

2. Transurethral resection of the prostate or TURP : also done under general anesthesia   and requires the surgeon to remove the malignant tissue or cancerous tissue in the prostate gland. This is accomplished by using a special tool that is placed inside the prostate via the urethra. This type of procedure requires no incision and is done totally through the urethra.

3. cryosurgery : during this procedure the cancer cells are eliminated by freezing the cancerous cells with a special tool that is placed directly into the tumor.

Side Effects and Complications due to Surgery for Prostate Cancer:

As with most surgical procedures there are always complications that can arise and side effects that can occur during and after the surgery is complete. Most of these side effects are acute and not long term due to advancements that have been made with surgery. Permanent nerve damage can now be avoided but the risk of developing side effects or complications from these types of surgical procedures still exists. Remember with all of the treatment options available for prostate cancer their are some risks of side effects of incontinence, impotence and bowel problems. Some of the side effects or complications that need to be discussed with your doctor directly related to surgery to the prostate gland are:

• incontinence : which is the loss of control of urination that could result in leakage or dribbling of urine out of the urethra. Most patients experience this right after the surgery has been completed and normal function may and has returned in many patients usually weeks to months after the surgical procedure has been done.
• impotence : which is the inability to initiate or maintain an erection. Once again this usually occurs a month or so after the procedure has been done. Usually 50% of all men who have surgery for prostate cancer will be able to maintain an erection after this procedure has been done except their will be no ejaculation of semen since the removal of the prostate gland.