He knew that the end was very near. He had resumed the use of painkillers, which at times made him quite groggy. These are questions that, while intriguing, are not answerable. For the patient contemplating surgery, doctors are often less aggressive than for other cancers. This is partly because prostate surgery can cause a lot of problems, at least in the short term.
Incontinence can last for weeks and is permanent in a small percentage of cases.
17 Damage to nerves and arteries during surgery often causes impotence, although in some cases the nerves and arteries can be spared. 18 Doctors realize that prostate cancer often advances very slowly. Most patients live many years whether they have surgery or not, and some researchers believe that surgery does not always change the long-term odds very much. It is essential to tailor your treatment to your specific condition, taking advantage of a second opinion if necessary. Doctors may recommend observation alone, particularly for older men whose tumors are small and less aggressive, as determined by biopsy results.