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Introduction |
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Radiation Therapy |
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Surgical Treatments |
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Medical Therapy |
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Watchful Waiting |
Surgical Treatments
For men who require surgery for their prostate condition, Continuum Cancer Centers of New York offers the latest surgical treatments.
Nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy allows for the opportunity to preserve potency without compromising cure. Radical prostatectomy may cure prostate cancer in its early stages or may help stop the spread of the disease. In this procedure, the surgeon cuts either through the abdomen or through the perineum in order to expose the patient's prostate and then cuts out as much of the prostate as possible. Then the urethra is carefully rejoined to the "neck" of the bladder so the patient will be able to urinate normally after a few weeks or months.
Radical prostatectomy is a major operation that requires hospitalization. The procedure can produce side effects, including impotence, incontinence (loss of urinary control), and narrowing of the urethra, which can make urination difficult. However, within the last few years, a nerve sparing technique was developed and the percentage of men with impotence following surgery has decreased. This technique is not possible with all patients and should be discussed thoroughly with a physician.
Cryosurgery is also offered, which destroys cancerous tissue by freezing it. Performed through tiny incisions and guided by transrectal ultrasound, narrow probes are used to freeze the cancer cells. This procedure takes only two to three hours and is performed under spinal or general anesthesia.
The major advantages of cryosurgery are its low rate of complications, minimal pain and the short hospital stay required. Most patients may be discharged the following morning. Patients can usually resume normal activities within a week. Although cryosurgery is not a replacement for traditional surgery, it does offer an excellent alternative for selected patients.
Side effects of cryosurgery may include impotence, scarring of the urethra and urinary dysfunction (which are relatively unusual), and irritation of the bladder, the urethra, the rectal wall, and the genitalia.
Beth Israel Medical Center was the first Manhattan site to offer cryosurgery for prostate cancer.
