Prostate Cancer Surgery
If tests have confirmed the worse, chances are, you will have to go under the knife. You and the doctor know that prostate surgery is the only to save your life and prevent the disease from further spreading.
Prostate cancer surgery is better known in the medical field as Prostatectomy. A team of surgeons will be on hand to remove the entire prostate gland as well as the nearby tissues that they suspect has been affected.
There are two methods for prostate cancer surgery. The first is called perineal while the other is called retro public.
The difference is where the cut is made. The perineal is done with an incision between the rectum and the scrotum while the retro public is done on the right side above the belly button that is an inch above the penis.
This is probably why retro public is more popular among men since the thought of having someone cut near the butt is unimaginable.
Before they cut you open, a catheter is inserted through the bladder by going through the tip of the penis. This is used to drain urine during and after the operation. This will only be taken out during post surgery, which is about two weeks later.
It is normal for some patients to experience urinary control problems for weeks and even months. This can even happen if you lift heavy objects at home or even at work so light duties must be given.
One other side effect often experienced after prostate cancer surgery is the inability to get an erection when you want to have sex. Medical science is still trying to find ways to prevent this from happening so you still get to have your manhood.
There is now a new method for prostate cancer surgery called a laparasropic. This is done with the help of a robot so if your doctor is not familiar with the machine and feels that this is necessary, you will be referred to someone who is more qualified to handle it.
Another form of prostatic cancer surgery is called transurethral resection of the prostate or TUR. This is done if tests have shown that the cancer cells are blocking the path of urine from the bladder.
This is not designed to make the cancer go away like the other examples since the objective here is just to stop the blockage.
If the problem is not with the glands but is found in the testicles, they have to be removed with a process called Orchiectomy. The after effects of the operation will greatly decrease your testosterone levels.
There is a 90% that the prostate cancer will stop growing after that and your prostate will begin to shrink.
Naturally, you want prostate cancer surgery to work so you can live a normal life again. Doctors will first explain the seriousness of the situation before any form of surgery is performed. This is when you should ask questions like what are the risks involved, what are the side effects or will you able to still have sex.
The answers to these questions and a lot more are based on case studies and historical data. Since results may vary for each individual, patients that have undergone prostate surgery will have to go back for regular checkups and PSA tests to make sure that all the harmful cells were removed.
Prostate Tip #1
As men age, they should think about prostate problem prevention since men in their fifties have a higher risk of developing an enlarged prostate or even cancer. It takes less money to prevent a disease from happening rather than treating it.
Prostate Tip #2
It will be in your best interests to get a prostate screening annually from your physician once you reach age 45 to determine if you have any problems with your prostate. This will also help your physician detect any cancer while it is still in its early stages.