What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer Surgery

Health & Medical Blog

Your doctor recommends prostate cancer surgery if other cancer treatment methods have failed or might not work. Different types of prostate cancer include:

1. Low-risk prostate cancer — This is cancer that is localised within your prostate and is unlikely to grow or spread. In this case, your surgeon might need to remove the prostate, part of your urethra and your seminal vesicles.
2. Medium/intermediate-risk prostate cancer — This cancer is localised within your prostate, but there is a chance it might grow or spread. In this case, your surgeon might need to remove the prostate, part of your urethra, your seminal vesicles and nearby lymph glands. The tubes that carry sperm to your penis may also require sealing.
3. High-risk prostate cancer — This cancer is localised within your prostate, but there is a high chance that it might grow or spread. It might also not be localised within your prostate, but has already grown and spread. High-risk prostate is also treated the same as intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Here's what you need to know:

Tests

Expect your doctor or prostate surgeon to carry out several tests to determine which type of prostate cancer you have; after which he or she discusses with you what the surgery entails, how to prepare for the surgery and what to expect after the surgery.

This is also the time to ask all the questions you might have, even if they sound foolish or embarrassing. Your surgeon is a professional who understands that all questions are relevant and crucial to the comfort, satisfaction and readiness of patients.

Types of Prostate Cancer Surgery

Depending on factors like your health condition, budget, surgeon's skills, availability of surgical equipment, etc., your prostate surgeon may utilise one of the following surgical methods:

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy 

Your prostate surgeon makes a small incision to allow surgical equipment to pass through. These pieces of equipment have a camera that guides the surgeon as they manoeuvre the tools to remove your prostate. This is the most recommended method because it enhances faster recovery and minimal bleeding.

Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy 

Your prostate surgeon operates surgical instruments through a remote computer, hence the name robotic. This method is not common, mostly because it is expensive. You also need an extremely skilled surgeon to operate robotic-assisted equipment.

Open radical prostatectomy 

Your prostate surgeon makes a wide incision and pulls the sides wide to access your prostate. This method is used if the methods mentioned above cannot be performed, maybe because of a complication.

For more information about prostate cancer surgery, talk to a doctor.

18 November 2020