Surgery of prostate cancer

The possibility to perform a surgery is always assessed on an individual basis according to the general condition of the patient, as the surgery is a more strenuous form of treatment than radiotherapy. While surgery is an effective form of treatment, medium and high risk cancer patients benefit from it the most. Surgery is particularly recommended when the prostate has enlarged and the patient has urination symptoms.

In planning surgery, we use a prostate MRI scan taken before biopsy. Based on certain risk factors, it is possible to perform NaF screening and/or an F-PSMA-PET-CT test in order that potential more advanced cancer can be determined or excluded.

Prostactemy or radiotherapy?

If the cancer has advanced locally (i.e. the cancer has grown through the prostate capsule or spread to the seminal vesicles or nearby organs) or the tumor has grown outside of the prostate, surgery is not a curable form of treatment. In such a situation, external radiotherapy and tissue-internal radiotherapy (HDR brachytherapy), are usually the most effective forms of treatment. Compared with surgery, even impotence and urinary incontinence are less common after radiotherapy. At Docrates Cancer Center, an assessment of suitable care is made individually for each patient.

Progressive Da Vinci robot‑assisted surgery

Patients at Docrates Prostate Cancer Clinic have access to a progressive Da Vinci robot‑assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) through our partners. Robot‑assisted surgery combines the benefits of open and laparoscopic surgery. Patients who undergo robot‑assisted surgery recover faster than open surgery patients.

Adverse effects associated with the surgery

The immediate side effects of surgery are more extensive than those of radiotherapy. The most serious risk associated with the prostatectomy is partial or complete loss of urinary continence or potence.

Patients who undergo Da Vinci robot‑assisted surgery have fewer adverse effects than patients who undergo the open surgery. They usually maintain a better ability to have an erection and better urinary continence.

Ask more about our treatment options and book an appointment with prostate cancer professionals, tel. +358 10 773 2010.