What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow in the prostate gland, a small gland below the bladder that helps make semen. It is one of the most common cancers in men.
Why is it important?
Prostate cancer affects about 40% of Indian men. Prostate cancer often grows slowly and is highly treatable when found early. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body, making treatment more difficult.
Who is commonly affected?
- Men over 50 years of age
- Men with a family history of prostate cancer
- Men with obesity
Symptoms
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Difficulty starting urination
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Weak urine flow
- Back or bone pain (if the cancer has spread)
- Unexplained weight loss or tiredness
Procedure Overview and Preparation
What is radical prostatectomy and why is it done?
Radical prostatectomy is an operation to remove the entire prostate gland and some nearby tissue. It is most commonly performed to treat localized prostate cancer and may help prevent the cancer from spreading.
Procedure Overview
Step-by-step
- You will receive anaesthesia so you do not feel pain
- The surgeon makes small keyhole incisions (robotic/laparoscopic) or one larger incision (open surgery)
- The entire prostate gland and some nearby tissue are carefully removed
- A urinary catheter is placed to drain urine while the bladder heals
- The incisions are closed with stitches or staples, and a temporary drain may be placed if needed
- You are monitored in the recovery area before being transferred to your hospital room
Time required
- Surgery: Usually 2–4 hours
- Overall hospital process (including preparation and recovery): About half a day to one full day
Risks, Benefits and Hospital Stay
Risks and Complications
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Urinary incontinence (urine leakage)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Narrowing of the urethra or bladder neck
- Fluid collection (lymphocele)
- Rarely, injury to the bowel or rectum
Benefits
- Removes localized prostate cancer
- May prevent the cancer from spreading
- Provides effective cancer treatment for many men
- Robotic surgery may result in less blood loss, less pain, a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and fewer complications than open surgery
Duration of Hospital Stay
- The length of stay depends on the type of surgery and your recovery. Many patients who have robotic surgery go home within 24 hours, while others may stay 1–2 days
When to Contact a Doctor
Contact your doctor if you have:
- Fever or chills
- Heavy bleeding or large blood clots in the urine
- Severe pain not relieved by medication
- Difficulty passing urine or problems with the catheter
- Redness, swelling, or discharge from the wound
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
Myths and Facts
Radical prostatectomy is only done when cancer has spread.
It is most commonly performed for localized prostate cancer, before the cancer has spread.
You cannot live without a prostate.
You can live without a prostate. The surgery removes the gland to treat prostate cancer.
Everyone becomes permanently incontinent after surgery.
Urinary leakage is common at first, but most men gradually regain bladder control, often within a year.
Erections never return after surgery.
Recovery of erections varies. Some men recover naturally, while others improve with medications and time, especially after nerve-sparing surgery.
References
- Prostate cancer. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353087/ Accessed on: 10 July 2026.
- Sankarapillai J, Krishnan S, Ramamoorthy T, Sudarshan KL, Mathur P. Descriptive epidemiology of prostate cancer in India, 2012-2019: Insights from the National Cancer Registry Programme. Indian J Urol. 2024;40(3):167-173.
- Radical prostatectomy . Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/prostatectomy/about/pac-20385198/ Accessed on: 10 July 2026.
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