Various Prostate Cancer Surgery Options
Filed Under Surgery |
When cancer is confined to the prostate gland, one of the most common forms of treatment is surgical removal of the entire prostate, known as a radical prostatectomy. There are several different ways this is performed, including the minimally invasive laparoscopic version which involves only a few small incisions in the abdomen. The major problem with having this surgery are the side effects that can result in serious quality-of-life issues.
There are a few ways this procedure can be performed.
Known as retropubic prostatectomy, this is what you think of when you think of surgery. The surgeon makes a large incision in your abdomen and manually goes in to remove your prostate gland.
Through the perineum.
The surgeon goes in through the skin between the testicles and the sphincter. The incision is generally about 3 inches long.
Laparscopic.
The surgeon makes several small incisions instead of one large one. He may use a robotic arm in some cases, controlling it remotely. This procedure is an excellent minimally invasive version of prostatectomy.
Side Effects
This is quite possibly one of the biggest drawbacks to this treatment. The prostate cancer is completely removed, but if nerves are cut in the process impotence can result. Some men also experience problems controlling their bladder. These are both serious issues that must be taken into account by both patient and doctor. Some experienced surgeons can perform what’s called “nerve-sparing” prostatectomy, an attempt to cut around the nerves that affect erections, but this is only possible of the tumor is small and only localized to the prostate gland.
Back to prostate cancer treatment.
Comments
Leave a Reply