Some physicians argue that watchful waiting imposes an emotional burden on any man who must live with the possibility of progressive cancer and its difficult treatments. The choice of waiting or aggressive treatment is often not an easy one, even for experts. Patients and their physicians should discuss all the options before making a decision about whether to treat the cancer aggressively or simply monitor it closely. Radical Prostatectomy Radical prostatectomy is surgical removal of the prostate and part of the urethra. The operation itself lasts two to four hours.
Patients remain hospitalized for up to two weeks.
A temporary catheter used to pass urine is kept in place when the patient is sent home and usually removed about three weeks after the operation. The convalescent period at home is about a month. In general, younger patients with early-stage cancers recover fastest and experience the fewest side effects. Hormonal treatments given before surgery are being investigated, but their value is not yet known. Success Rates .