Surgery is the treatment most likely to relieve BPH symptoms. However, it also has the most complications. After the patient is given anesthesia, the doctor inserts a special instrument into the urethra through the penis. With the instrument, the doctor then removes part of the prostate to lessen its obstruction. In this procedure, the doctor passes an instrument through the urethra to make one or two small cuts in the prostate.
Open surgery is used when the prostate is very enlarged.
In open surgery, the surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen or between the scrotum and the anus to remove prostate tissue. Men should carefully weigh the risks and benefits of each of these options. Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among American men. About 80 percent of all cases occur in men over 65. For unknown reasons, prostate cancer is more common among African American men than white men.