Prostate Cancer – Is Surgery the Only Option?
Cancer of the prostate gland is termed as prostate cancer. A walnut-sized gland, prostate is present only in men within the pelvis and enclosed around the urethra (the tube responsible for throwing out urine from the body). The gland is also responsible for secreting some liquid part of the seminal fluid (carrying sperm produced by the testes). Semen is very essential for reproduction.
Prostate cancer is known to be the most common type of cancer among men. Research says that this type of cancer accounts for the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men. The cancer is comprised of adenocarcinoma cells (those emerging from glandular tissue).
Treatment Options
Surgery is known to be one of the treatment options available presently for prostate cancer. Radical prostatectomy is the most common form of surgery for prostate cancer. It involves removal of prostate gland under general anesthesia.
However, not everyone with prostate cancer require surgery. The treatment type recommended to the patient depends on the stage of prostate cancer.
Candidates for Surgery
Surgery is usually recommended for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. This depends on a number of factors such as overall health, age, and the stage of the cancer. All men with this type of cancer are not treated as they are tagged with side effects affecting quality of life.
Since prostate cancer grows gradually, doctors usually recommend watchful waiting or active surveillance. This is done, especially when the condition does not cause any symptoms. Active surveillance will involve the patient being monitored closely for signs of cancer growing. Treatment will only be given if necessary.
Surgery for Prostate Cancer - The Types
The surgery for this type of cancer falls into two major types:
1. Radical Prostatectomy
2. Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)
Radical Prostatectomy
This type of surgery is recommended for men with localized prostate cancer. It is not suitable for cases where the cancer has already spread outside of the prostate. The process involves removal of the entire prostate gland combined with the cancer within it. The surgeon will also take out the seminal vesicles, and adjacent lymph nodes, especially when there is a risk the cancer may have spread to these areas.
Laparoscopy
This procedure is carried out via creating many tiny cuts into the abdomen. Thereafter, the prostate is removed. Also known as keyhole surgery, this minimally invasive surgery involves the surgeon making around 5-6 cuts in the abdomen by hand. A camera and lighted tube are used to guide the surgeon.
Robot-Assisted Surgery
Here, the surgeon makes use of 3 robotic arms which are controlled from a PC.
Retropubic Prostatectomy (open surgery)
The process involves the surgeon making a single cut in the stomach.
Perineal Prostatectomy
This is known to be the less common form of open surgery involving a cut made between the testicles and the back passage.
TURP
This is not a cure for cancer. In fact, it helps the patient deal with difficulty in passing urine, the most common symptoms of prostate cancer. The problem occurs when the enlarged prostate presses against the urethra and makes it narrow. This operation is carried out under the effect of general anesthesia. A prostate cancer surgeon will pass a thin metal tube to the urethra through the penis while carefully looking through a camera.
A ting wire loop is put through the tube. Using heat, smaller portions of prostate tissue are removed. Fluid is passed through the bladder. It flushes away all removed tissues.
The Side Effects
- Difficulty urinating which improves over time
- Incontinence (affects 2% of patients)
- Blood in urine for initial weeks post TURP
- Urine infection
- Slow urine flow due to scar tissue (affects 4% of patients)
- Erectile dysfunction (affects 7% of patients)
- Retrograde ejaculation wherein the semen is passed into the bladder during orgasm instead of being ejaculated.
- Unable to become father through sex
Pros of Prostate Cancer Surgery
Removal of the prostate will remove especially if it is inside the gland.
Cons of Surgery
Since the prostate is involved in the process of producing semen, removal will make men unable to ejaculate or become father through sex. Many men experience "dry orgasms" after surgery, which means experiencing the sensation of orgasm without the ejaculation.
It is possible to storing sperm for fertility treatment at a later date for men who wish to become father.
The Risks
Infection
Bleeding
Blood clots
Injury to neighboring organs such as nerves and bowel
Side Effects
Leaking of urine (urinary incontinence) is the most common side effect of surgery. Others include difficulty getting or keeping an erection, difficulty controlling the bladder, stress incontinence, and difficulty urinating.
Survival Rates
As per reports by the American Cancer Society, the five-year relative survival rate for this type of cancer is 100%.
Prostate cancer is known to be the most common type of cancer among men. Research says that this type of cancer accounts for the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men. The cancer is comprised of adenocarcinoma cells (those emerging from glandular tissue).
Treatment Options
Surgery is known to be one of the treatment options available presently for prostate cancer. Radical prostatectomy is the most common form of surgery for prostate cancer. It involves removal of prostate gland under general anesthesia.
However, not everyone with prostate cancer require surgery. The treatment type recommended to the patient depends on the stage of prostate cancer.
Candidates for Surgery
Surgery is usually recommended for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. This depends on a number of factors such as overall health, age, and the stage of the cancer. All men with this type of cancer are not treated as they are tagged with side effects affecting quality of life.
Since prostate cancer grows gradually, doctors usually recommend watchful waiting or active surveillance. This is done, especially when the condition does not cause any symptoms. Active surveillance will involve the patient being monitored closely for signs of cancer growing. Treatment will only be given if necessary.
Surgery for Prostate Cancer - The Types
The surgery for this type of cancer falls into two major types:
1. Radical Prostatectomy
2. Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)
Radical Prostatectomy
This type of surgery is recommended for men with localized prostate cancer. It is not suitable for cases where the cancer has already spread outside of the prostate. The process involves removal of the entire prostate gland combined with the cancer within it. The surgeon will also take out the seminal vesicles, and adjacent lymph nodes, especially when there is a risk the cancer may have spread to these areas.
Laparoscopy
This procedure is carried out via creating many tiny cuts into the abdomen. Thereafter, the prostate is removed. Also known as keyhole surgery, this minimally invasive surgery involves the surgeon making around 5-6 cuts in the abdomen by hand. A camera and lighted tube are used to guide the surgeon.
Robot-Assisted Surgery
Here, the surgeon makes use of 3 robotic arms which are controlled from a PC.
Retropubic Prostatectomy (open surgery)
The process involves the surgeon making a single cut in the stomach.
Perineal Prostatectomy
This is known to be the less common form of open surgery involving a cut made between the testicles and the back passage.
TURP
This is not a cure for cancer. In fact, it helps the patient deal with difficulty in passing urine, the most common symptoms of prostate cancer. The problem occurs when the enlarged prostate presses against the urethra and makes it narrow. This operation is carried out under the effect of general anesthesia. A prostate cancer surgeon will pass a thin metal tube to the urethra through the penis while carefully looking through a camera.
A ting wire loop is put through the tube. Using heat, smaller portions of prostate tissue are removed. Fluid is passed through the bladder. It flushes away all removed tissues.
The Side Effects
- Difficulty urinating which improves over time
- Incontinence (affects 2% of patients)
- Blood in urine for initial weeks post TURP
- Urine infection
- Slow urine flow due to scar tissue (affects 4% of patients)
- Erectile dysfunction (affects 7% of patients)
- Retrograde ejaculation wherein the semen is passed into the bladder during orgasm instead of being ejaculated.
- Unable to become father through sex
Pros of Prostate Cancer Surgery
Removal of the prostate will remove especially if it is inside the gland.
Cons of Surgery
Since the prostate is involved in the process of producing semen, removal will make men unable to ejaculate or become father through sex. Many men experience "dry orgasms" after surgery, which means experiencing the sensation of orgasm without the ejaculation.
It is possible to storing sperm for fertility treatment at a later date for men who wish to become father.
The Risks
Infection
Bleeding
Blood clots
Injury to neighboring organs such as nerves and bowel
Side Effects
Leaking of urine (urinary incontinence) is the most common side effect of surgery. Others include difficulty getting or keeping an erection, difficulty controlling the bladder, stress incontinence, and difficulty urinating.
Survival Rates
As per reports by the American Cancer Society, the five-year relative survival rate for this type of cancer is 100%.
Comments
Post a Comment