Radical prostatectomy at Oxford, The Manor Hospital

The bladder is joined back onto the water-pipe (urethra).

This procedure is carried out for patients who have confined prostate cancer. The success of this operation in curing prostate cancer is second to none, although there may be significant complications (side-effects).

A radical prostatectomy can be carried out through an incision on the lower abdomen (open surgery). Patients stay in hospital for about 4 days. A urinary catheter tube is necessary for about 2 weeks after the procedure while the bladder/urethra join heals.

After radical prostatectomy your PSA level should become undetectable, so PSA is used to monitor progress post-operatively. If the operation does not cure the disease, radiotherapy or hormone therapy are available options for additional treatment.