Types of surgery for prostate cancer
This page tells you about the different types of surgery used for prostate cancer. There is information about
Types of surgery for prostate cancer
Your doctor will discuss the most suitable type of surgery for you depending on
- The size of the cancer and whether there is any spread
- What the cells look like under a microscope
- The likely outlook for your condition (your prognosis)
- Your general health
- Your symptoms
Radical prostatectomy
A radical prostatectomy operation removes all of your prostate gland. The surgeon does this through a cut in your abdomen, or it might be carried out as keyhole surgery. Removing the prostate can often cure the cancer if it has not spread.
Orchidectomy
An orchidectomy operation removes both your testicles so that they cannot produce testosterone any more. Testosterone can make prostate cancer grow. Removing the testicles can shrink a locally advanced prostate cancer or stop it from growing.
Transurethral resection (TUR) of the prostate
A TUR operation may help to relieve your symptoms, such as being unable to pass urine. It will not cure your cancer. Your surgeon removes part of the prostate gland from around the urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder).
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the Treating prostate cancer section.
Your doctor will discuss the most suitable type of surgery for you depending on
- The size of the cancer and whether there is any spread (the stage)
- What the cells look like under a microscope (the grade or Gleason score)
- The likely outlook for your condition (your prognosis)
- Your general health
- Your symptoms
Before any operation, talk it over fully with your doctor. It is important that you know what it involves and what effects it may have on you. Remember - no operation is done without your consent.
Removing the prostate gland is also called total prostatectomy or radical prostatectomy. Your surgeon removes the prostate through a cut in your abdomen, or it might be carried out as keyhole surgery. Removing the prostate can often cure the cancer if it has not spread beyond the prostate gland. There is detailed information about radical prostatectomy in this section of CancerHelp UK.
UK Prostate Link can direct you to more information about the surgical removal of the prostate gland as a treatment for prostate cancer or its symptoms.
This operation removes both your testicles so that they cannot produce testosterone any more. Testosterone can make prostate cancer grow. Removing the testicles can shrink a locally advanced cancer or stop it from growing. It does not cure the prostate cancer but can control it for many months or sometimes years. Orchidectomy is not commonly used these days because doctors usually use hormonal therapies that stop the testicles producing testosterone instead. We have detailed information about orchidectomy in this section of CancerHelp UK.
During a TUR your surgeon removes part of the inner area of the prostate gland from around the urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder). The surgeon does this by passing a thin tube up your penis through the urethra. This operation can be done to relieve symptoms such as being unable to pass urine. It will not cure a prostate cancer. There is more information about transurethral resection of the prostate in this section.
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