Home Treatments Prostate Cancer Surgery

Surgery for prostate cancer

Surgery is the main treatment for prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate. This commonly involves a radical prostatectomy (removal of the entire prostate, part of the urethra and seminal vesicles).

The three approaches for prostatectomy, performed under general anaesthesia, include:

Open prostatectomy Laparoscopic prostatectomy Robotic-assisted prostatectomy

Open prostatectomy

An open prostatectomy is a procedure where a long incision is made through the skin and abdominal wall or perineum to access your prostate.

Laparoscopic prostatectomy

A minimally invasive procedure that uses several small incisions to access the prostate. Laparoscopic procedures result in less postoperative pain and complications, shorter hospital stay and faster recovery compared to open prostatectomy.

Robotic-assisted prostatectomy

This procedure uses a robotic system to perform laparoscopic prostatectomy remotely, allowing greater precision in comparison to standard laparoscopic surgery.

During surgery, surrounding lymph nodes may also be removed in a procedure known as a pelvic lymph node dissection. They will then be analysed for the presence of prostate cancer under a microscope to detect if your cancer has spread from the prostate.

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Types Watchful waiting Active surveillance Surgery Radiation therapy Hormone therapy Chemotherapy Cryotherapy
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