• Prostate Treatments
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Surgery appears to be the favourite route in the USA. Whilst here in the UK hormone and radiotherapy make up the bulk of treatments given.

By Surgery we are talking about the complete removal of the prostate gland. What this means is that the urethra that is left below the prostate has to be joined to the base of the bladder.

Surgery should normally only be given when the cancer cells are known to be contained within the prostate capsule, i.e. have not started to migrate to other parts of the body. Indeed one of the first things a surgeon should do is to check to see if cells have left the prostate by sending off a section of adjoining tissue for analysis before he proceeds to remove the gland. Nerve sparing Surgery is always recommended as this performed correctly will spare the nerves which control impotence. It is recommended therefore that you attempt to ensure that the surgeon has the expertise in this form of surgical technique and a work load in respect of prostatectomies before you go ahead with the operation.

The removal of the gland can lead to impotence and also to total or partial incontinence; so these possiblities have to be weighed against the chances of the cancer cells becoming more agressive and moving out from the prostate gland and producing secondaries in other parts of the body.