Question: Early Stage Treatments - What is a Prostatectomy?
Answer: A prostatectomy is a complete removal of the prostate. It is most often performed when the prostate cancer cells are located only in the prostate (stages T1 or T2). There are three types of prostatectomy: Open, laparoscopic and robotic.
Open/Traditional
The Open (traditional) prostatectomy involves an incision through the perineum (the area between your rectum and the scrotum). The surgeon removes the prostate and any nearby tissues where cancer may have spread.
Laparoscopic
With a laparoscopic prostatectomy, four or five small (< 1 inch) incisions are made in the abdomen, and a long tube-like camera (the laparoscope) is used to visualize the area and other long tube like instruments are used to remove the prostate and affected tissues. The smaller incisions allow for quicker healing.
Robotic Nerve Sparing
The robotic (nerve sparing) prostatectomy also uses a laparoscope and several incisions are made in the abdomen. However it is robotic, and two surgeons are used. One is next to the patient, and the other controls a robotic system made from a laparoscope and two robot arms.
This allows for very precise movement and the use of very small and delicate instruments than a surgeon's hand can manipulate manually. The precise manipulation allows for less destruction of surrounding tissue and the sparing of the nerves in the area.
Prostatectomy Advantages
- Prevents cancer spread to other tissues.
- Cures the cancer if cells have not spread outside the prostate.
Prostatectomy Disadvantages
- Can cause impotence (AKA erectile dysfunction)
- Can cause urinary incontinence
- Requires hospitalization
- Can cause urethral stricture (narrowing of the urethra)