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Radical prostatectomy: Pros and cons
By Mayo Clinic staffRadical prostatectomy may be an effective way to treat your prostate cancer. Consider the following pros and cons before making your decision:
| Pros of radical prostatectomy | Cons of radical prostatectomy |
|---|---|
|
If the cancer is confined to your prostate, this is the most effective treatment to remove cancer. |
All operations carry some risk, including a low risk of death, which increases with age. |
| Your doctor is able to gather information about the extent of your cancer during surgery and after a laboratory examination of the removed prostate tissue. Lymph nodes can be analyzed to determine if additional treatment is required. | It takes time for you to regain urinary continence and return of erectile function. You may have permanent issues with urinary continence and erectile function. |
| Surgery can also treat pre-existing problems with urination caused by enlarged prostate. | If people have a problem with erectile function before surgery, they'll usually have permanent problems after surgery. |
| Without the prostate to produce PSA, PSA testing will show no PSA in your system immediately after your surgery. If your cancer comes back, your PSA levels will increase. An increase would be an accurate way to tell your cancer has returned. | Surgery requires a hospital stay and longer recovery period than does radiation therapy. |
| You can still use radiation after the surgery, whereas surgery after prior radiation is much more difficult and not offered in most cases. |
