A prostatectomy (normally known as a radical prostatectomy) is surgery to completely remove the prostate gland.
It is given to men who have prostate cancer that is considered to be localised within the prostate itself – i.e. it hasn’t spread beyond the prostate. A prostecectomy is normally considered a cure, as if the cancer is not spread the likelyhood of any further incidence returns to normal levels for men according to age.
A prostatectomy can either be administered as ‘open’ surgery or more commonly nowadays as keyhole or laparoscopic prostatectomy surgery (often on a robot assisted machine known as a daVinci).
A prostatectomy is not offered to men with locally advanced prostate cancer patients as the side effects outweigh the benefits. The side effects include urinary incontinence and impotence.
As my cancer is locally advanced I have not been offered surgery.
daVinci Robotic Prostatecomy