Will I Have A Catheter
When you wake up after surgery you will have a urinary catheter. A catheter is put in after you have been put to sleep. If you have never had a catheter before, catheters are a tube inserted through your urethra into your bladder to drain urine. The catheter will be connected to a bag that is taped to your leg. Have loose-fitting clothes like sweat pants or shorts for when you leave the hospital to accommodate the catheter. Before you leave the hospital, your nurse will show you how to use the catheter. You will probably need to keep the catheter in for a week or two. Removal of a catheter is usually done at the doctors office after the prescribed frame and is relatively pain-free.
Dont Miss: How Long Is Prostate Surgery
About Your Prostate Surgery
A radical prostatectomy is a surgery to remove your entire prostate gland and seminal vesicles. Some of the lymph nodes in your pelvis are removed as well. This is done to prevent cancer from spreading from your prostate to other parts of your body.
A radical prostatectomy can be done in 1 of 2 ways. One way is through an open incision , which is called an open prostatectomy. Another way is to use a laparoscope, which is a tube-like instrument with a camera. Your surgeon will talk with you about the best surgery option for you.
Open prostatectomy
In an open prostatectomy, your surgeon will make an incision that goes from your pubic bone towards your belly button . Theyll remove the pelvic lymph nodes first, followed by the prostate gland, and then the structures next to it.
Figure 2. Open prostatectomy incisions
Laparoscopic or robotic-assisted prostatectomy
During a laparoscopic or robotic-assisted prostatectomy, your surgeon will make several small incisions in your abdomen . Theyll insert a laparoscope into 1 of the incisions and use gas to expand your abdomen. Surgical instruments will be inserted into the other incisions to remove the prostate. Some surgeons at MSK are specially trained to use a robotic device to help with this procedure.
Figure 3. Laparoscopic or robotic-assisted prostatectomy incisions
Will I Need Continence Pads
During the first few weeks after a prostatectomy, almost all patients experience some urinary incontinence. This is because removing the prostate disturbs the area between the bladder and urethra, which carries urine out of the body. During surgery, the bladder is pulled down to join the urethra and in so doing, restoring continuity. The bladder neck muscle is sometimes also weakened during surgery. We recommend that you buy continence pads before surgery and bring them into hospital with you. They can be purchased in high street pharmacies.
At the Birmingham Prostate Clinic, we specialise in nerve-sparing laparoscopic surgery which significantly reduces the impact upon the bladder. This means that many patients are dry within weeks of surgery. However, we recommend that all patients buy male incontinence pads before surgery and bring them into hospital when they come in for surgery. The results of our study of nerve-sparing prostate surgery show 82 per cent of men no longer need pads three months after surgery and this figure increases to 92 per cent six months after surgery. For the small number of men who have longer term continence problems or require further support, we can refer you to your local continence service.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Keep Your Prostate Healthy
Changes In Your Sex Life
Most men experience some decline in erectile function after their prostate is removed, but this can be managed. It can take six months or even up to a year for the affected nerves to recover from surgery. But with proper therapy and treatment, most patients can have good erectile function again, says Dr. Fam.
Treatment options include:
Work with your doctor to find a treatment that is right for you.
Who Performs Prostate Surgery
A urologist performs prostate surgery. Some specialists use the term urologic surgeon, but board certification in urology requires extensive training in surgery, including prostate surgery. If you require prostate surgery for cancer, look for a surgeon who specializes in prostate cancer surgery. This doctor may be a urologist, urologic surgeon, or surgical oncologist.
Urologists specialize in surgical procedures in the urinary tract system and the male reproductive system, including the prostate. Surgical oncologists specialize in cancer surgery. All of these providers may specialize further in the surgical approach, such as laparoscopic surgery or robotic prostate surgery.
Regardless of the specialty, be sure your surgeon performs a high volume of surgeries per year of the exact procedure you are having, and at a hospital with a record of high qualitya low rate of complications. This expertise and experience will improve your chances of a successful operation and recovery. Check hospital quality at healthgrades.com.
Read Also: What Is Level 7 Prostate Cancer
When To Call Your Doctor Or Nurse
Its important to tell your doctor or nurse if:
- your bladder feels full or your catheter isnt draining urine
- your catheter leaks or falls out
- your urine contains blood clots, turns cloudy, dark or red, or has a strong smell
- you have a fever
- you feel sick or vomit
- you get cramps in your stomach area that will not go away
- you get pain or swelling in the muscles in your lower legs.
Your doctor or nurse will let you know if you should go to the hospital.
Managing Incontinence After Robotic Prostatectomy
After the procedure, kegel exercises are recommended by experts as a safe option for improving symptoms. You can learn how to do kegel exercises here.After surgery and after removal of the catheter, you should do this exercise in sets of ten, four times a day. Dr Samadi encourages patients to even do these before surgery to work as pre-conditioning.
Doctors also recommend behaviour modification as a natural, healthy treatment method. This involves making a number of lifestyle changes that will reduce your leakages. These include limiting fluid intake at night time and avoiding bladder irritants such as caffeine and alcohol. Quitting smoking to reduce coughing and bladder irritation can also reduce the pressure placed on the bladder. Spicy foods, carbonated drinks and citrus fruits can also worsen your symptoms and should be avoided.
Doing gentle exercise is also helpful to ensure your weight does not put additional pressure on the bladder. However, you should avoid over-exercising after your surgery. This has been proven to slow down the healing and stretching. Straining and heavy lifting are also discouraged for the first four weeks after surgery.
Experiencing incontinence can be difficult, however you should remember that there are treatment methods available.
Read Also: Natural Treatments For An Enlarged Prostate
Recommended Reading: Side Effects Of Radiation For Prostate Cancer
Benefits And What To Expect
The mission of the GRI is to ensure that our hand-selected team is comprised of the worlds best and brightest medical staff. With that in mind, we have built a team of over 50 professionals who strive to serve our patients and support the surgical teams pursuit of excellence. We have assembled a comprehensive team to deliver the best option to each patient that comes to our Institute. We take a multi-modality and multi-disciplinary approach to patient care, collaborating with experts in radiation oncology, medical oncology and internal medicine to provide the optimal comprehensive approach to urologic cancer to our patients. Surgery is not the best option for all patients therefore, we evaluate each patient individually and assess the potential prostate treatment options of active surveillance, radiation therapy, androgen deprivation and other surgical modalities.
The state-of-the art facilities at AdventHealth are unparalleled. From the resort inspired facility at Celebration Health to the hub of Central Florida’s healthcare at AdventHealth Orlando, patients travel from all over the globe to receive their treatment at our hospital. Fine dining, hotels and entertainment abound in Orlando, and patients and families often extend their stay in Orlando to take advantage of these amenities.
Advantages Of Ralp Over Traditional Surgery Include:
- Small incisions
- Less blood loss than in traditional surgeries
- Less pain than an open incision surgery
- Less risk of infection over other kinds of surgery
- Shorter stay in the hospital
- Faster recovery at home
The magnification system provides your surgeon with a clear view of the tiny blood vessels, nerves, and muscles surrounding your prostate to help minimize side effects after your surgery.
Not every man who needs prostate removal surgery will be a candidate for robotic surgery. Each prostate cancer patients situation is unique, with some patients requiring a different surgical method either traditional open surgery or, less frequently, radical perineal prostatectomy.
If you have recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are looking for a second opinion on treatment options before undergoing surgery, consult with one of the prostate cancer specialists at Compass Oncology located throughout the Portland-Vancouver area.
Recommended Reading: Prostate Removal Pros And Cons
Are There Differences Between Orp Lrp And Ralrp
According to a 2010 of different surgery types for prostate cancer, the outcomes for open radical prostatectomy , laparoscopic , and robotic-assisted prostatectomy are not significantly different.
But people who choose LRP and RALRP may experience:
- less blood loss
- shorter hospital stay
- faster recovery time
Also, people who choose RALRP report faster recovery in continence and decreased hospital stay, in comparison to LRP. But the overall outcomes still depend on the surgeons experience and skill.
What Is The Difference Between Robotic And Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy
Both are minimally-invasive techniques of performing radical prostatectomy for cancer. In laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, the surgeon stands by the operating table and himself manipulates the instruments. In robotic prostatectomy the surgeon is seated at a robotic console near the patient from where he drive the robotic instruments to perform the operation. The robot faithfully and accurately reproduces the surgeons sophisticated maneuvers.
You May Like: What’s Good For Prostate Problems
What Happens After Robotic Prostate Surgery
- Robotic prostate surgery operative time is typically 2-4 hours
- Hospital stay is typically 1-2 days
- Our team will be seeing you on a daily basis during your stay in the hospital and will give you detailed after-surgery instructions prior to your discharge home.
- Foley Catheter typically comes out on day 5 after a cystogram
- Jackson Pratt drain comes out around the time of Foley catheter removal depending on your individual circumstances
- No driving for 7 days after prostate surgery
- No other restrictions in physically activities after surgery just do what you can tolerate
- Aspirin can be restarted when you are back to eating regular meals
- The first PSA check after prostate surgery is at 1 month and then 3-6 months thereafter.
Also Check: Prostate Cancer Center Of New Jersey
Success Of Radical Prostatectomy
The goal of radical prostatectomy is to cure prostate cancer. But a prostate cancer cure is only possible from prostatectomy if your prostate cancer is limited to the prostate.
During radical prostatectomy, a member of your treatment team examines your removed prostate under a microscope to see if your cancer has reached the edge of the prostate. If so, the prostate cancer has probably spread. In these cases, you may need more treatments.
Men with no evidence of prostate cancer spread have an 85% chance of surviving 10 years after radical prostatectomy.
You May Like: What Does Elevated Prostate Levels Mean
Sexuality And Feeling Good About Your Body
Prostate cancer treatment can often affect sexual function. Learning to be comfortable with your body during and after prostate cancer treatment is a personal journey, one that is different for everyone. Information and support can help you cope with these changes over time. Learn more in Sex and the Man With Cancer.
What To Expect After Radical Prostatectomy
Most men stay in the hospital for 1 to 3 days after radical prostatectomy. Your care team inserts a urinary catheter during the surgery, and some men may need to wear the catheter home for a few days to a few weeks. Another catheter inserted through the skin also may need to stay in place for a few days after returning home.
Pain after radical prostatectomy can generally be controlled with prescription pain medicines. It can take weeks or months for urinary and sexual function to return to their maximum levels.
After radical prostatectomy, itâs important to see your doctor for all your regular follow-up appointments to make sure your prostate cancer doesnât return.
Show Sources
Also Check: Does Aspirin Help Enlarged Prostate
Nutrition And Dietary Supplements
Some studies have suggested that eating a healthy diet that is rich in vegetables and lower in animal fats might be helpful, but more research is needed to be sure. However, we do know that a healthy diet can have positive effects on your overall health, with benefits that extend beyond your risk of prostate or other cancers.
So far, no dietary supplements have been shown to clearly help lower the risk of prostate cancer progressing or coming back. In fact, some research has suggested that some supplements, such as selenium, might even be harmful. This doesnt mean that no supplements will help, but its important to know that none have been proven to do so.
Dietary supplements are not regulated like medicines in the United States they do not have to be proven effective before being sold, although there are limits on what theyre allowed to claim they can do. If you are thinking about taking any type of nutritional supplement, talk to your health care team. They can help you decide which ones you can use safely while avoiding those that could be harmful.
Side Effects Of Prostate Surgery And Radiation: What You Need To Know
Prostate cancer treatment options include open or robotic radical prostatectomy, radiation with external beam radiation and/or brachytherapy, also known as radioactive seed implantation, and high intensity focused ultrasound, also called HIFU. Prostate surgery side effects and prostate radiation side effects, in addition to erectile dysfunction, include the following:
You May Like: Rock Stars With Prostate Cancer
What Is A Radical Prostatectomy
Surgery to remove the prostate to treat prostate cancer is called a radical prostatectomy. The aim of surgery is to remove all of the cancer cells.
It is usually done when the cancer is contained in the prostate and has not spread to the surrounding area.
A prostatectomy may sometimes be done to treat locally advanced prostate cancer. But usually, this operation is not possible. This is because the surgeon would not be able to remove all the cancer cells that have spread outside the prostate. Other types of surgery, such as transurethral resection of the prostate , can help with the symptoms of locally advanced prostate cancer.
A prostatectomy is a big operation and may not be suitable for everyone. Your doctor can tell you whether it is suitable or if a different treatment may be best for you.
See also
Help Managing Cancer Treatment Side Effects
The team at Compass Oncology is experienced in helping patients treat prostate cancer and manage the side effects of treatment. If you live in the Portland-Vancouver area, have more questions about the side effects of prostate cancer treatment, or need help managing your side effects, request an appointment at one of our locations that’s convenient for you. We’re here with you every step of the way.
Read Also: Natural Treatment For Enlarged Prostate
Life After Prostate Removal: What To Expect
The prostate gland is prone to inflammation and developing cancer.
Almost half of the men above the age of 60 have benign prostate hyperplasia or prostate enlargement.
However, BPH does not cause removing the prostate, but the presence of cancer or its early sign is the reason for prostate removal.
Prostate cancer has become a significant concern in recent years. Its incidence is increasing, and now its diagnosis is becoming more common even among middle-aged men.
Prostate cancer is now among the most common cancers in older men.
Aging indeed has lots to do with the increased prostate cancer rate, but it is not the only cause. It seems that this disproportionate increase in the annual incidence of prostate cancer also has to do with other lifestyle issues like a high-fat diet, greater prevalence of metabolic disorders, environmental toxins, hormonal changes, and more.
The prostate plays an important role in male fertility and sex life. Although men can survive without a prostate, unfortunately, for many men, prostate removal results in poor quality of life, issues like erectile dysfunction, and more.
Some men can expect to recover well from proctectomy. However, for others the journey to recovery is prolonged and distressing. Keep reading to find out more about life after prostate removal and what you can expect.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor Or Nurse
You may find it helpful to keep a note of any questions you have to take to your next appointment.
- What type of surgery do you recommend for me and why?
- What type of surgery do you recommend for me? Will you try to do nerve-sparing surgery?
- How many of these operations have you done and how many do you do each year?
- Can I see the results of radical prostatectomies youve carried out?
- What pain relief will I get after the operation?
- How and when will we know whether the operation has removed all of the cancer?
- How often will my PSA level be checked?
- What is the chance of needing further treatment after surgery?
- What is the risk of having urinary problems or erection problems and what support can you offer me?
Also Check: After Prostate Removal What To Expect