Prostate Cancer Surgery (Radical Prostatectomy)
Prostate cancer is one of the cancers affecting men most. In the case of early diagnosis, surgical resection is, in most, the best attempt to completely cure the disease. Radical prostatectomy is one of the most effective and widely performed surgical steps in prostate cancer. This article will guide you through what this procedure entails, its benefits, the types of surgery, cost, risks, and recovery time, along with information on the best hospitals in India for prostate cancer surgery.
What is Prostate Cancer Surgery?
Prostate cancer surgery is the surgery of the removal of the prostate gland in male patients with prostate cancer. The most common type of prostate cancer surgery is radical prostatectomy, which involves the complete removal of the prostate gland, and sometimes surrounding tissues, including lymph nodes. In this operation, the object is the cure for prostate cancer and the block of its metastasis.
Why is Prostate Cancer Surgery Performed?
Surgery is typically recommended for prostate cancer to:
Remove the cancerous prostate gland: Radical prostatectomy can be effective in reducing cancer at its early stage, with an especially high efficacy when the prostate is incriminated only.
- Prevent the spread of cancer: The surgery is performed to remove cancer cells and prevent them from advancing to other parts of the body.
- Increase survival rates: Surgery-based early intervention is routinely able to improve survival rates and quality of life after treatment.
Types of Prostate Cancer Surgery
Radical prostatectomy is the most frequent procedure for prostate cancer surgery. However, there are variates in doing this surgery:
- Open Radical Prostatectomy: In this traditional method, surgeons make a significant wound in the lower abdomen to remove the prostate gland.
- Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: A minimally invasive surgery where surgeons make small incisions in the abdomen and use a camera (laparoscope) to guide them during the procedure.
- Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: This advanced technique uses robotic technology to assist in the surgery. The surgeon operates the robotic arms to achieve precision and control, resulting in smaller incisions, less pain, and faster recovery.
Procedure Steps
The procedure for radical prostatectomy generally follows these steps:
- Anesthesia: The patient is anesthetized with a general anesthetic before the procedure.
- Incision: According to the surgical approach (open, laparoscopic, or robotic-assisted), an incision in the lower abdomen is performed.
- Prostate Removal: The surgeon resects the whole prostate gland and sometimes adjacent lymph nodes to stage for whether the cancer has metastasized.
- Reconstruction: After the surgeon removes the prostate, they reconnect the bladder to the urethra to maintain normal urinary function.
- Closure: The surgical team closes the incisions with sutures and transfers the patient to the recovery room.
Benefits of Prostate Cancer Surgery
Prostate cancer surgery provides numerous advantages:
- Potential cure: Radical prostatectomy may provide a high cure rate, particularly when cancer is confined to the prostate.
- Prevention of cancer spread: The operation successfully excises the prostate gland and what may be malignant tissues, while also lessening the extension of the disease to other sites.
- Improved quality of life: Although it may temporarily affect both urinary and sexual function, most patients can subsequently recover function after adequate rehabilitation and this has a positive impact on their quality of life.
- Long-term survival: Not all men survive cancer for a long time after surgery, especially if cancer is diagnosed in an early stage.
Cost of Prostate Cancer Surgery
- Radical Prostatectomy (Open Surgery): $4,000 – $7,000
- Radical Prostatectomy (Laparoscopic Surgery): $5,000 – $8,000
- Robotic-Assisted Prostatectomy: $6,500 – $10,000
Prostate cancer surgery can be far more expensive in Western countries
| Country | Radical prostatectomy |
| USA | $15,000 to $20,000 |
| India | $4,000 to $10,000 |
| UK | $10,000 to $15,000 |
Best Hospitals in India for Prostate Cancer Surgery
India has many beautiful hospitals providing state-of-the-art treatments in the area of prostate cancer. The top hospitals in Delhi and India include:
- Metro Hospital Faridabad
- Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi NCR
- Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, Delhi NCR
- Medanta—Gurgaon
Risks and Complications
As with all surgeries, radical prostatectomy has a risk for potential complications, including:
- Infection: Not unlike any surgical operation, infection remains a risk.
- Bleeding: Some bleeding may occur during or after the procedure.
- Urinary Incontinence: Certain men may have some type of short-term or long-term problems with their bladder control.
- Erectile Dysfunction: Nerve damage during surgery can lead to erectile dysfunction, though many men regain sexual function over time with appropriate treatment.
- Lymphedema: Extraction of lymph nodes may lead to enlargement of the lower limb or the groin.
Recovery
It may take weeks to recover from the surgical treatment of prostate cancer. Here’s what you can expect:
- Hospital Stay: Postoperatively, most patients are kept in the hospital for observation (1 to 2 days).
- Initial Recovery: During the first week or two, a person will need to cope with pain and soreness and get back into normality as much as possible.
- Long-Term Recovery: It may take 4 to 6 weeks for full recovery, especially for those who undergo open surgery. Laparoscopic and robotic surgeries usually offer quicker recovery times.
- Physical Therapy: A few males may need pelvic floor exercises or physiotherapy to regain bladder control.
