More about this project
More about the MCC
homeTable of ContentsMedical Words
Understanding Your Prostate
What Your Test Results Mean
Treatment Choices
Intro
Watchful Wating
Surgery
Radiation
Comparing Treatment Choices
Comparing Side Effects
Newer Treatments
Things to Ask Your Doctor
After Your Treatment
Education and Support Groups
A Choice and A Journey
 
Order Materials
 
Treatment Choices : Surgery (also called Radical Prostatectomy)

What happens

  • You will be admitted to the hospital for one or more days.
  • During surgery, the surgeon will remove the entire prostate gland with the cancer in it. Sometimes, the doctor will also remove the lymph glands (nodes) next to the prostate.
  • The surgeon can get to the prostate through the lower abdomen or from in between the legs, near the scrotum. Another way to remove the prostate is to put a lighted tube (called a laparoscope) through the abdomen into the body either by the doctor alone, or by using a robotic device (also known as robotic surgery).
  • In some cases, the surgeon can do a “nerve-sparing” surgery. This can reduce the chance that a man will have problems holding his urine or having sex after surgery. But for some men, this cannot be done. If the cancer is too near the nerves, the surgeon might have to cut out the nerves so no cancer is left behind.
  • A tube (catheter) will be placed in your bladder to drain your urine. It will be left in for a short time.

To see pictures of how surgery works,
please see page 4.


1 2 3 4 Next


This photo shows the scar left after open
retropubic cancer surgery.