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Fighting Prostate Cancer With a Prostatectomy
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men (after skin cancer), affecting about 1 in 8. But here’s a more positive statistic: Only 1 in 44 men die of prostate cancer, thanks to early intervention efforts like the prostatectomy.
Board-certified urologist Dr. Robert J. Cornell, a specialist in men's healthcare and prostate cancer, routinely helps patients successfully navigate this common disease. One of his tools is the prostatectomy.
Here, we look at what a prostatectomy involves and what you can expect, so you have a better idea about the path ahead.
Removing the source of the prostate cancer
Your prostate gland sits just below your bladder, and its sole purpose is to produce the fluid that carries and nourishes your sperm. Fortunately, you can lead a healthy life without it. So, if we detect prostate cancer confined to this small gland, we usually recommend removal, or a prostatectomy, to eliminate the disease at its source.
Most of the time, Dr. Cornell performs a radical prostatectomy, which removes the entire prostate gland as well as the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes.
What occurs during a prostatectomy
Thanks to laparoscopy and our use of the innovative DaVinci® Surgical System, also called robot-assisted surgery, most prostatectomies are minimally invasive procedures. This means they lead to much less tissue damage, allowing for a much quicker and more comfortable recovery than you would have with open surgery.
Before Dr. Cornell removes any tissues, he may first biopsy a nearby pelvic lymph node to determine whether the cancer has spread. If the biopsy detects cancerous cells in your lymph nodes, he won’t remove your prostate.
If the biopsy confirms the cancer is confined to your prostate, then Dr. Cornell removes the prostate gland, the seminal vesicles, and surrounding tissues. This procedure aims to remove the cancer entirely.
After your prostatectomy
Recovery after a robot-assisted prostatectomy tends to go smoothly, but expect a couple of weeks of downtime.
You might also encounter some post-prostatectomy incontinence and/or erectile dysfunction, but Dr. Cornell addresses these side effects and helps you manage them.
Find the right path for you
If you have more questions about prostatectomy or want to explore other treatment options for prostate cancer, we’re here to help. Contact our Houston office to schedule a consultation. We’ll answer your questions, talk through your choices, and help you make the best possible decision for your health, your body, and your future.
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