Many men diagnosed with prostate cancer begin sweating at the mention of “surgery.” While surgery is an effective prostate cancer treatment, many patients are very concerned about the long-term side effects and risks of traditional prostate cancer surgery,
Not all men diagnosed with prostate cancer require surgery. Various factors determine whether or not they are a candidate including their age, overall health, and the stage of cancer.
Some patients do recover from the common prostate cancer surgery risks, such as decreased urinary and sexual function, but it is typically a lengthy and painful process, which is why some men consider forgoing treatment altogether rather than having such an impact on their quality of life.
Types of Prostate Cancer Surgeries
There are 3 major types of prostate surgeries and they all have varying side effects.
These are: radical prostatectomy, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and pelvic lymphadenectomy.
Radical Prostatectomy
Used for men with fairly healthy conditions, the whole prostate gland is removed, so the cancerous cells are no longer in the body and at risk of spreading is reduced. The seminal vesicles, the glands that secrete many components of semen, may also be removed.
Pelvic Lymphadenectomy
This procedure is usually done before a radical prostatectomy to check whether more intensive surgery is necessary.
Lymph nodes are removed from the pelvis for a biopsy. If cancer is found in the lymph nodes, a radical prostatectomy would need to be avoided as it could cause severe side effects, including not eliminating the spread of cancer cells.
Transurethral Resection (TURP)
An enlarged prostate puts pressure on the urethra, making the valve very narrow. A man would receive a TURP to help with urinary function.
Possible Risks of Prostate Cancer Surgery
With all surgeries comes the risk of infection, which if overlooked can lead to serious health problems. Additionally the recovery process after surgery can be painful and after recovery there can be side-effects such as:
- Retrograde ejaculation
- Erectile dysfunction
- Urinary incontinence
- Urethral stricture
Minimally-invasive Prostate Cancer Treatment
Fortunately, there’s a faster, easier, safer, and cost-effective solution to prostate cancer that avoids all of the risks associated with surgery.
CyberKnife technology uses high-dose and extremely precise radiation beams to destroy tumors in the body without the need for invasive surgery.
Patients can forego all of the typical side effects of surgery, as well as enjoy little to no downtime. In just 2-to-5 treatment sessions prostate cancer can be cured.
A mini-incision is made to place markers in the prostate gland which allows the CyberKnife to precisely target the tumor and deliver beams of radiation from hundreds of angles to kill cancer.
CyberKnife is so precise health surrounding tissue is unharmed.
Another bonus, CyberKnife costs less than the average prostate cancer surgery.
If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer, speak to your physician about CyberKnife for treatment. At the CyberKnife Center of Miami we treat cancer with the least disruption to your life and the highest cure rate.
To learn more about CyberKnife prostate cancer treatment or to schedule an appointment, visit our website at www.prostatecancertreatmentmiami.com/ or speak to a member of our staff by calling our office at (305) 279-2900.