Almost all cancers can be cured provided they are detected early. For cancerous conditions associated with the prostate there are a number of treatment options one of which is the Perineal Prostatectomy that involves removal of the affected organ. To undergo this surgery it is rather important for the patient to keep himself in good overall health condition. Since a surgeon usually performs an incision in the groin, it is called the perineal approach and hence the name Perineal Prostatectomy. It is also of utmost importance that the surgeon must have enough experience to perform this surgical procedure as the incision is made in that sensitive area of the body which is between the anus and the scrotum.

Perineal Prostatectomy is made less use of than the other form of surgery known as the radical retro pubic prostatectomy.  In the latter case the lymph nodes can be easily sampled unlike the former type of surgery. Incidentally, the lymph nodes are organs that are distributed throughout the body. They trap foreign particles and also contain white blood cells. While undergoing a Perineal Prostatectomy surgery, the surgeon removes the prostate gland and the surrounding tissues too. If this is done smoothly and by a surgeon having a long list of cases to his credit in this form of surgery then it is all well. Perineal Prostatectomy can be performed in two ways. The first one is the open surgery method and the other is by laparoscopy. During laparoscopy the surgeon makes several small incisions in the belly. If the surgeon so wishes and has suspicion of the cancer having spread to the lymph nodes, then he may make several incisions to remove the lymph nodes. Likewise he may forego that particular incision if he feels that the lymph nodes have not been affected. For this specialized equipment called the laparoscope is used.

There is no denying the fact that Perineal Prostatectomy by and large is never really free of problems as several post surgery cases have suggested. Some of the most widely reported issues are erectile dysfunction, involuntary flow of urine and damage to the rectum especially if the surgery is complicated in cases of advanced prostate cancer. In fact, at times there is the loss of control over the bowels. Due to such associated problems the patient may end up dissociating himself from social interactions and refrain from leading a normal and regular lifestyle. Some may also need to be attended to by a full time nursing staff.

Perineal Prostatectomy is performed under general anesthetic and it also requires a hospital stay of 2 to 4 days. After the incision, the surgeon implants a thin tube called the catheter. This the patient carries with him for 1 to 3 weeks. This is in order to drain out the accumulating urine voluntarily. Actual bladder control might take several months after the removal of the catheter. Even after a successful surgery by Perineal Prostatectomy, the patient must go for periodic check ups to ensure that everything is in order. This is mainly because there are chances of the cancer returning back as has been detected in several cases.

Like all major surgeries, it would be advisable to keep a few things in mind such as history of illnesses, heart problems, other medical conditions and drug allergies. Ensure that the doctor you choose to go to has a successful track record as far as the actual surgical procedure is concerned. Only when the doctor is completely aware of your condition, lifestyle and other important factors can both of you be able to work towards relieving you of your ailment and let you lead as normal a life as would be possible post your Perineal Prostatectomy.