More typically, it is performed in conjunction with a laparoscopic lymph node sampling . Its main advantages are less pain, less blood loss (fewer transfusions) and a shorter hospital stay.
Radical prostatectomy by either method may result in significant incontinence (leaking of urine) in about 2 percent of patients and mild loss of urine in about half of patients. The operations are complex and as with any major surgical procedure there can be wound breakdown and infection. Nearly everyone survives the operation. Newer techniques permit the majority of younger men to preserve their sexual ability, but it is lost in most men over 70. Incontinence and impotence can be treated.
Radiation Radiation therapy can be given by external beam or implantation of radioactive seeds
into the tumor . External beam radiation usually takes about six weeks. It has the advantage of avoiding an incision, but sometimes it may not kill all the cancer cells . If so, the tumor may grow back, although it can take ten to fifteen years to return. The risks and complications of external beam radiation therapy are equivalent in number to those of surgery, but there are differences in the nature of specific problems. Six weeks of radiation can cause moderate and sometimes considerable fatigue. Severe rectal pains with diarrhea and spasms (radiation proctitis) and severe bladder urgency, frequency and pain on urination (radiation cystitis) can also occur. These can be permanent. Loss of urine (incontinence) and impotence occur nearly as often as they do with a radical prostatectomy. As well, external beam radiation may not kill all the cancer cells.
