Free Article: Prostate Cancer Surgery

You are here:
Directory | Prostate Cancer |

Exploring Your Options: Prostate Cancer Surgery
By M .A. Fulmar

Many men die of prostate cancer every year. When detected at an early stage, a patient does not have to undergo any prostate cancer surgery, instead can be treated through different kinds of therapies. However, if the disease goes beyond the prostate gland, the patient may have to undergo a certain type of prostate cancer surgery in order to live.

Unfortunately, all kinds of prostate cancer surgery have risks. This includes impotence, incontinence and bowel problems. Because the potential side effects of each prostate cancer surgery available, such as the removal of prostate gland, are very significant, the decision to undergo surgery and treat the disease should be discussed by the doctor and patient in order to weigh the pros and cons.

Whether or not you detected the disease at an early stage, your doctor should discuss to you about the most effective prostate cancer surgery depending on personal factors. These factors include your general health, symptoms, size and spread level of the cancer, your cell description under a microscope and the prognosis or outlook of your condition.

Three Types of Prostate Cancer Surgery: Which is the best?

Before your prostate cancer surgery, you have to understand all the benefits and consequences of the chosen surgery for your condition. If you decided to undergo surgery, you have three surgery options – Prostate TUR (Transurethral resection), Radical or Total Prostatectomy and Orchidectomy.

Prostate Transurethral resection is an operation wherein the doctors remove a part of the patient's prostate gland (around the tube that carries urine from the bladder known as urethra). This prostate cancer surgery is done by passing a small, thin tube up from the penis through the urethra. The tube includes a small telescope to allow surgeons see the cancer and remove the diseased tissues.

Radical (or Total) Prostatectomy is a prostate cancer surgery that removes the patient's entire prostate gland. This operation is usually done by cutting in the abdomen or through keyhole surgery. If the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate gland, this surgery has a great chance of curing the cancer.

Orchidectomy is an operation that removes the patient's testicles so that they can't produce testosterone anymore. This is because testosterone is the number one cause of prostate cancer growth. However, this prostate cancer surgery is usually done in emergency cases, particularly when anti-testosterone drugs do not work.

Due to the possible side effects of these prostate cancer surgeries, it is recommended that the patient, doctor and families discuss the treatment options to arrive at an informed decision.

Author Details:
M .A. Fulmar writes for a number of web sites such as The A to Z of on various health matters with a great interest in the many benefits of Natural Deodorant including the reduced risk of Cancer.

Article Source: Free Health Articles

NOTE: This article may be reproduced ONLY if the author details, source and ALL links remain in place and active.

Articles About Prostate Cancer: