Most people quake at the thought of any kind of surgery. Unfortunately, several people do not really have a choice in this matter. Surgery is sometimes performed to remove a cancer-ridden part of your body. In the case of prostate cancer, you may have to go through a prostatectomy. Prostatectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the prostate glands. This should be a good but risky option if the cancer has not yet spread out beyond the prostate.
The procedure
So what is the procedure like? Radical prostatectomy, as the procedure is formally called, is a procedure that is performed while the patient is under anesthesia. You may be given a general anesthesia or an epidural. General anesthesia should put you in a sleep-like state while an epidural will block the nerve routes in your spine, preventing pain from registering. Radical prostatectomy is an invasive surgery that may take weeks to recover from.
Types of prostatectomy
There are three types of prostatectomy based on where the incision or cut will be. The retropubic prostatectomy is also called an open prostate surgery. The cut travels from 8 to 10 centimeters on the lower abdomen. Then there is the perineal incision. The cut is made on the perineum, which is composed of muscles and skin found between the scrotum and the rectum. The cut is usually just 4 centimeters long. The third one is called the laparoscopic prostatectomy. Another version of this is performed by robotic arms. In both the laparoscopic and the robotic prostatectomy procedures, a narrow tube is placed in the abdominal cavity to reach the prostate. Instead of one long cut, performed as with the retropubic and the perineal incisions, there are small incisions.
For all types of incisions, the urethra is sewn onto the bladder’s neck after the prostate has been successfully removed. A catheter is placed through the penis to transport the urine out while the operated part is still healing.
Recovery time
After your prostatectomy, you will be staying at the hospital for two to three days. However, your catheter stays for about two to three weeks. In a month’s time, you could already be fully recovered and ready to work if you are still working. If you are lucky, you could regain bladder control in just a few weeks. There are those who regain bladder control after several months. If you are young and healthy enough, you can recover from the surgery quickly. Older patients with a lot of risks may not be recommended the surgical procedure in the first place. If your surgeon is very skilled, you can be spared of any nerve-related injury. This means you can easily regain bladder control and erectile function.
Benefits offered by prostatectomy
The most obvious benefit offered by prostatectomy is the cure for prostate cancer. If the cancer is only found in the prostate glands, you can be completely cured after the surgery. The treatment may be painful and expensive, with a possible long recovery time, but at least you are free of the cancer cells. The problem here would be if your cancer has already spread to other parts of your body. If this is the case, prostatectomy may not actually be recommended by your physician. If done well and during the right cases, prostatectomy can be a guaranteed cure in terms of the cancer anyway.
Risks of the procedure
As with other types of surgery, the prostatectomy poses some risks on your general health, on your well-being and even on your life. The anesthesia itself is a risk. Some patients have terrible reactions to anesthesia. Others may undergo long recovery periods, which may be contributed to their own immune systems or to how skilled the surgeon was. The surgical procedure may put you at risk of blood loss and even death. That is how serious invasive surgery can be. If you live to survive your procedure, you may find yourself addled with numbed nerves. Your prostatectomy requires incisions on areas with nerves. If those connected to your urinary function are damaged, you could end up not feeling any urge to urinate even after recovery. Nerves connected to sexual pleasure may also be the ones damaged. You could then end up not being able to enjoy sex anymore.
Is the procedure right for you?
Not everyone will be recommended to go through prostatectomy even if the prostate cancer is already at the advanced stage. If you are an older man, with other health problems, you may not be advised to go through surgery. You may end up dying or experiencing a major complication during the prostatectomy. There may also be those whose cancer has already spread beyond the prostate glands that the procedure will just be an unnecessary and ineffective risk. Prostatectomy is recommended to otherwise healthy individuals who will not only survive the procedure but will also be most likely cured after it is through. If you are still in the early stages of your prostate cancer and are young and healthy enough, you may be recommended the procedure so that you can prevent the cancer from spreading anywhere else. To know if this is the best procedure for you, always consult a doctor first.