Understanding your prostate cancer surgery options

Are you or someone close to you considering surgery after a prostate-cancer diagnosis? Discover what you need to know before making a choice.
For many, surgery is the best option for successfully fighting prostate cancer, especially if it has spread or is aggressive. When undergoing prostate cancer surgery, it's essential to understand surgical options, risks and the chances for overall success.

According to the Prostate Cancer Canada foundation, the carcinoma is expected to claim the lives of 4,000 Canadian men in 2015, underlining the danger of this particular variety. However, treatment options are currently better than ever, which means survival rates are rapidly improving.

When assessing treatment options, your doctor will review your overall health, the type of cancer cells you have, and the stage of the cancer.

These two commonly used surgical methods involve removing the prostate gland itself. Both prostatectomy methods begin with an incision in the abdomen area in order to access the prostate area. Although a simple prostatectomy involves removing a piece of the prostate, a radical prostatectomy involves removing the entire gland.

As long as the cancer hasn't dramatically spread beyond the prostate, this form of treatment has a good chance of ensuring the cancer doesn't return. Regardless of the method, surgeons will also try to remove any cancer in the surrounding area, including the lymph nodes. They will likely take tissue samples from lymph nodes in order to ensure that the cancer hasn't spread.

The laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) method involves making a number of small incisions around the prostate area. Specialized instruments are then inserted through the incisions and a camera is attached to one of the instruments. These instruments can cut away the prostate in very specific areas, allowing for complete removal of the prostate or only partial removal.

The LRP method can also be performed by a robot for even better precision cuts and removal of the prostate. Reduced blood loss, faster recovery and less overall pain are benefits of LRP.

There are a number of complications surrounding prostate cancer surgery, such as urinary incontinence, anaesthesia side effects, blood loss and even possible death in rare circumstances. One of the most common risks is erectile dysfunction, since surgeons must cut near the nerves that control erections.However, with proper cutting, it's possible to avoid nerve damage if your surgeon uses nerve-sparing surgery.

Ultimately, surgery can be a highly effective way of ensuring your cancer is removed and doesn't come back. However, each case of prostate cancer is different. In the end, you should choose a form of prostate cancer surgery that both you and your doctor feel is best for your specific profile.