Radical Prostatectomy to Treat Prostate Cancer

Radical prostatectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat prostate cancer that involves removing the prostate gland and surrounding tissues. The surgery can be performed using traditional open surgery or minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopic surgery or robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery.

During the procedure, the surgeon removes the entire prostate gland along with the seminal vesicles and some surrounding tissues, such as lymph nodes. This is done to ensure that all cancer cells are removed from the body. The goal of the surgery is to remove the cancerous cells before they spread beyond the prostate gland.

After the surgery, a patient may experience some temporary side effects such as pain, bleeding, and urinary incontinence. However, most men are able to return to normal activities within a few weeks to a few months after the surgery.

Radical prostatectomy is a common treatment for prostate cancer and can be effective in curing the disease in many cases. However, it is not suitable for every patient, and the decision to undergo the surgery should be made after careful consideration of the patient’s overall health and the extent of the cancer.