Side Effects Of Prostate Surgery

Enlarged Prostate Symptoms And Causes

There is not a consensus among physicians on exactly why the prostate begins to grow again, though it is widely speculated that an excess of certain hormones may be the catalyst. One study has shown a high correlation between DHT levels in the blood and enlarged prostates. Conversely, men with low DHT levels do not experience enlarged prostates.

Estrogen has also been linked to prostate enlargement. As men age, less testosterone is found in the blood stream creating a larger proportion of estrogen. High levels of estrogen have been documented as a marker for this condition as well.

One important thing to note: just because you have a larger prostate does not necessarily mean you will suffer. As with real estate, its all about location, location, location. The position in relation to the urethra is more important than the actual size.

What must be remembered is if you recognize any of the enlarged prostate symptoms below, you need to ask for clinical testing to determine obstruction.

• A weak or interrupted urinary stream
• Sudden urgency to urinate
• Inability to completely empty the bladder during urination
• Trouble initiating urine flow even when bladder feels full

While these are most common, you may have an enlarged prostate and still not experience any of these. Its safe to say that after the age of 40, you will want to keep a dialogue with your physician about your prostate health as well as receiving full exams.

Who Should Undergo Radical Prostatectomy

Men younger than age 75 with limited prostate cancer who are expected to live at least 10 more years tend to get the most benefit from radical prostatectomy.

Before performing radical prostatectomy, doctors first try to establish that the prostate cancer has not spread beyond the prostate. The statistical risk of spread can be determined from tables comparing the results of a biopsy and PSA levels. Further testing for spread, if needed, can include CT scans, bone scans, MRI scans, and ultrasound.

If it appears that the prostate cancer has not spread, a surgeon may first offer other options besides surgery. These can include radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or simply observing the prostate cancer over time, since many prostate cancers grow slowly. Depending on how high the risk of cancer spread, pelvic lymph node dissection may be considered, as well.

How Do You Choose

Choosing which of the Prostate Cancer Treatments depends upon many factors. The type of cancer, whether or not the cancer has spread , a patients age, general health status, and prior prostate cancer treatments the patient may have undergone. There are three standard prostate cancer treatments for men with organ-confined prostate cancer: Active Surveillance, Surgery and Radiation Therapy .

We suggest consultations with several specialist who can describe the pros and cons of each prostate cancer treatment. So plan to schedule consults with experts in each field of treatment. A Urologist is a trained surgeon who can review the surgical options for a prostatectomy. A Radiologist is a medical doctor who can lead you through the options of external beam or brachytherapy, seed implants. If your cancer is more advanced, you may also want to meet with a Medical Oncologist, an expert in the treatment of various types of cancer.

Patients are encouraged to compare prostate cancer treatments by looking at treatment effectiveness. Why, because for some, prostate cancer comes back. This is called recurrence. By monitoring the yearly PSA levels of thousands of patients treated for prostate cancer, year after year, long term effectiveness is revealed for low to high risk patients. See which patients remained in remission at year 5, 10, and 15, verses those whose experienced cancer recurrence. Prostate Cancer Free provides treatment comparisons in an interactive form, or printable study.

You May Like: How Is The Prostate Checked

How Turp Is Performed

TURP is carried out using a device called a resectoscope, which is a thin metal tube containing a light, camera and loop of wire. This is passed along your urethra until it reaches your prostate, which means no cuts need to be made in your skin.

The loop of wire is then heated with an electric current and used to cut away the section of your prostate causing your symptoms. A thin tube called a catheter is then inserted into your urethra to pump fluid into the bladder and flush away pieces of prostate that have been removed.

General or spinal anaesthesia is used during the procedure so you donât feel any pain while itâs carried out.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor Or Nurse

You may find it helpful to keep a note of any questions you have to take to your next appointment.

• What type of surgery do you recommend for me and why?
• What type of surgery do you recommend for me? Will you try to do nerve-sparing surgery?
• How many of these operations have you done and how many do you do each year?
• Can I see the results of radical prostatectomies youve carried out?
• What pain relief will I get after the operation?
• How and when will we know whether the operation has removed all of the cancer?
• How often will my PSA level be checked?
• What is the chance of needing further treatment after surgery?
• What is the risk of having urinary problems or erection problems and what support can you offer me?

Don’t Miss: Why Would An Enlarged Prostate Interfere With Urination

Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

Minimally invasive surgical technique to remove the prostate and seminal vesicles. The surgeon performs the procedure through five 1-cm incisions spread in the shape of a fan across the lower abdomen. The surgeon performs the procedure using a robotic surgical assist device called the daVinci® Surgical System. Takes 2.5-3.5 hours to perform with a hospital stay of 24-48 hours.

Urinary Leakage Associated With Chronic Retention

Incontinence associated with chronic retention is when the bladder is unable to empty properly, resulting in frequent leakage of small amounts of urine.

Symptoms that your bladder is not completely emptying include:

• need to strain to pass urine

• a weak or slow urine stream

• feeling as if your bladder is not empty just after going to the toilet

• little or no warning when you need to pass urine

• passing urine during sleep

• frequent urinary tract infections or cystitis, and

• ‘dribbling’ of urine after visiting the toilet

Recommended Reading: How Often To Get Prostate Exam

Prostate Cancer Treatment: Surgery

Looking for sex and intimacy tips beyond the basics? Explore our new guide Under the Hood.Under the Hood is currently best for people whoâve had prostate cancer surgery and their partners.

Your surgeon will remove your prostate gland and some surrounding tissue, including the seminal vesicles. If cancer has spread to nearby nerves, your surgeon will also remove some or all of those nerves to make sure the cancer is gone.

Details Of The Greenlight Laser Prostate Surgery

A small urethral catheter is inserted at the end of the procedure. This is left in place overnight only. After removal of the catheter, men go home once they have successfully passed urine and emptied their bladder.

Follow-up takes place 12 weeks after the prostate laser surgery to confirm symptomatic improvement.

The Prostate Clinic

The Prostate Clinic, located in Australiaâs Gold Coast, specialise in minimally invasive surgery and treatments, for the prostate and prostate cancer.

Dr. Charles Chabert carries out medical therapy and procedures such as robotic prostate surgery and UroLift, to GreenLight laser prostate surgery or laser prostate surgery. These treatments are aimed at patients with prostate cancer, those seeking enlarged prostate treatment, erectile dysfunction and/or urinary incontinence.

Contact The Prostate Clinic to arrange an appointment to discuss your diagnoses and plan your way forward.

Latest Blog Posts

You May Like: What Os The Function Of The Prostate

What Can I Expect During The Itind Treatment

Your doctor will insert the iTind device into the prostatic urethra in the hospital or clinic. Typically, patients return home within a few hours without a catheter.1 After 5 to 7 days at home, you will return to your doctorâs office and the iTind device will be completely removed. There may some slight discomfort during the 5 to 7 days, but most patients feel rapid symptomatic relief and return to their normal activities shortly after removal of iTind.1,2

How Prostate Cancer Is Treated

In cancer care, different types of doctorsincluding medical oncologists, surgeons, and radiation oncologistsoften work together to create an overall treatment plan that may combine different types of treatments to treat the cancer. This is called a multidisciplinary team. Cancer care teams include a variety of other health care professionals, such as palliative care experts, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, oncology nurses, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, dietitians, physical therapists, and others.

The common types of treatments used for prostate cancer are described below. Your care plan may also include treatment for symptoms and side effects, an important part of cancer care.

Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, possible side effects, and the patients preferences and overall health.

Cancer treatment can affect older adults in different ways. More information on the specific effects of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy on older patients can be found another section of this website.

Because most prostate cancers are found in the early stages when they are growing slowly, you usually do not have to rush to make treatment decisions. During this time, it is important to talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of all your treatment options and when treatment should begin. This discussion should also address the current state of the cancer:

You May Like: Can Enlarged Prostate Cause Back And Leg Pain

What Is An Enlarged Prostate

The prostate tends to get larger as men age. This enlargement often squeezes the urethra, which is the internal pathway tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside the urethra passes right through the prostate.

The squeezing can create a blockage of the urine flow. The symptoms of BPH can include difficulty starting urination, a reduced stream, increased need to urinate, and the inability to completely empty the bladder.

If left untreated, BPH can develop into urinary retention or incontinence, bladder stones, and damage to the bladder and kidney.

What Is The Success Rate Of Prostate Artery Embolization

Did you know that an enlarged prostate affects at least 50% of all American men by the age of 60 and over 90% by age 80? If youre struggling with the negative symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate, board-certified radiologist Dr. Andrew Doe and the team at Alate Heath want to help.

Our practice offers prostate artery embolization to men in Houston, Texas, suffering the ill effects of an enlarged prostate. Regarded as one of the safest treatment options available, PAE can provide lasting relief for your symptoms.

We know you may have questions about PAE and how successful it is at treating enlarged prostate, so weve put together this helpful guide. Read on to learn more!

Also Check: Prostate Biopsy Risks Spreading Cancer

Don’t Miss: When To Get Prostate Cancer Screening

About Dr Dan Sperling

Dan Sperling, MD, DABR, is a board certified radiologist who is globally recognized as a leader in multiparametric MRI for the detection and diagnosis of a range of disease conditions. As Medical Director of the Sperling Prostate Center, Sperling Medical Group and Sperling Neurosurgery Associates, he and his team are on the leading edge of significant change in medical practice. He is the co-author of the new patient book Redefining Prostate Cancer, and is a contributing author on over 25 published studies. For more information, contact the Sperling Prostate Center.

Search the spc blog

Diet Fluids And Bowel Movements

Constipation is a common side effect of pain medications and surgery. You should have received prescriptions for an oral stool softener and a laxative.

You should start drinking fluids as soon as you are comfortable after surgery, and you can resume your normal diet the first day after surgery. But while waiting for normal bowel function to return, you should avoid large meals in favor of several small meals a day. To prevent constipation, we recommend drinking at least eight to 10 glasses of fluids each day and eating lots of fruits and vegetables. Avoid carbonated beverages and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and cabbage for approximately two weeks, as they frequently cause gassy discomfort and distention.

Take your stool softener and laxative as prescribed. Normal trajectory for return of bowel function is one to two days to pass gas, three to five days for the first bowel movement.

If you havent had a bowel movement by day three after your surgery, take oral Miralax , an over-the-counter laxative. You can combine Miralax with the prescribed stool softener and laxative. Follow the instructions on the box. Do not use any enemas or take stronger laxatives, such as magnesium citrate. Contact the clinic if you still havent had a bowel movement by day five.

Dont Miss: Can Your Prostate Grow Back After Surgery

Read Also: Axumin Pet Scan For Prostate Cancer

Prostatectomy At Brigham And Womens Hospital

Most prostatectomy procedures at Brigham and Womens Hospital are performed robotically. Robotic radical prostatectomy surgery uses a combination of high-definition 3D magnification, robotic technology, and miniature instruments to enhance a urologic surgeons skills when removing a cancerous prostate gland.

Adam S. Kibel, MD, Chief of Urology, and Steven L. Chang, MD, MS, use the FDA-approved da Vinci® Surgical System to perform hundreds of robotic prostatectomies each year. The system consists of a surgeons console, equipped with a control panel and a hi-definition monitor, and a patient side-cart, outfitted with slender robotic arms and attended by another surgeon and a nurse.

Unlike traditional open prostate surgery, which requires one large incision and retraction to accommodate human hands, only tiny incisions in the abdomen are required for the slender robotic arms and tiny surgical tools used in a robot-assisted prostatectomy. There are four available arms one equipped with a high definition 3-D magnification camera, two that act as the surgeons arms and a fourth arm that is used for holding back tissue. The camera gives the surgeon enhanced detail, true depth of field and a panoramic view, and the robotic hands broad range of movement enables greater dexterity.

Robotic surgerys miniaturization, increased range of motion, enhanced vision and mechanical precision offer significant benefits for our prostatectomy patients, including:

What Is A Robotic Prostatectomy

Robotic prostatectomy, or robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, is the complete surgical removal of the prostate, seminal vesicles, and vas deferens for the treatment of prostate cancer. Compared with the traditional open operation, the procedure is performed through small incisions using the daVinci Surgical System.

Read Also: How Far Up The Rectum Is The Prostate

How Do I Know If The Itind Treatment Is Right For Me

The iTind procedure is a new alternative to prescription medication or invasive surgery. Ask your doctor about the iTind procedure if you do not want to take a pill every day, or if you have tried standard drug treatments and were unsatisfied with the level of symptomatic relief or the way they made you feel. The iTind procedure might also be the right choice for you if you are interested in preserving your sexual function and continence1,2 are worried about having a permanent implant, or are concerned about undergoing a surgery that would involve a long recovery and downtime.

What Are The Side Effects Of Holmium Laser Enucleation Of The Prostate

The most common side effects include:

• Temporary burning and bleeding during urination. Some blood may be seen in the urine for weeks after surgery. This is usually not an indication of anything serious, only that the healing process is not yet finished.
• Urinary incontinence is expected in all patients immediately after surgery and they should wear pads for the first few days/weeks. This typically improves over the course of several weeks. Performing Kegel exercises can help decrease leakage from stress maneuvers such as coughing, sneezing, or lifting. The rate of long term leakage from stress maneuvers is low. Patients may also have leakage with urgency and this may be treated with medication. The risk of urge incontinence can be dependent on several factors including age, prostate size, symptoms, and other medical problems.
• Erectile function is generally not significantly affected. A small percentage of patients have reported improved erectile function while a small percentage have reported decreased erectile function.

Also Check: What Are The Side Effects Of Having Prostate Removed

You May Like: What Is The Most Successful Prostate Cancer Treatment

Advantages Of Ralp Over Traditional Surgery Include:

• Small incisions
• Less blood loss than in traditional surgeries
• Less pain than an open incision surgery
• Less risk of infection over other kinds of surgery
• Shorter stay in the hospital
• Faster recovery at home

The magnification system provides your surgeon with a clear view of the tiny blood vessels, nerves, and muscles surrounding your prostate to help minimize side effects after your surgery.

Not every man who needs prostate removal surgery will be a candidate for robotic surgery. Each prostate cancer patients situation is unique, with some patients requiring a different surgical method either traditional open surgery or, less frequently, radical perineal prostatectomy.

If you have recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are looking for a second opinion on treatment options before undergoing surgery, consult with one of the prostate cancer specialists at Compass Oncology located throughout the Portland-Vancouver area.

The Sperling Prostate Center Advantage

Our philosophy is to match the treatment with the disease. Our BlueLaser 3T mpMRI-Guided Biopsy is the most responsible and accurate way to know your disease before making a treatment decision. We help patients avoid the risk of under-treating aggressive disease, or over-treating insignificant disease that can safely be monitored. We pride ourselves on having attained international recognition for excellence in real-time MRI-guided prostate cancer diagnosis.

If BlueLaser 3T mpMRI detects cancer, a biopsy is essential because prostate cancer may not show early symptoms, though certain warning signs indicate increased prostate cancer risk:

• An elevated or rising PSA blood test result
• An abnormal digital rectal exam
• A family history of prostate cancer or breast cancer
• Being of African-American descent
• Exposure to certain cancer-causing toxins, e.g. Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange
• In later stages, prostate cancer may show symptoms such as urinary difficulties, blood in urine, pelvic or back pain, and bone pain. See a doctor if any of these symptoms occur.

You May Like: What Is The Most Effective Treatment For Enlarged Prostate