Ten percent of men have mild stress incontinence. The postoperative potency rate depends on the age of the patient and the stage of disease. Overall, it approximates 50 percent. Catheters are used for three weeks after which time patients begin kegel exercises to regain urinary control. This process can take a few weeks to a few months.
Most patients return to work within four weeks of surgery.
The Division of Urology, in conjunction with the Department of Radiation Oncology, also offers brachytherapy for appropriate individuals. Patients are evaluated by physicians from both departments, since the procedure is performed cooperatively by an urologist and a radiation therapist. More information about brachytherapy is provided in the section on Radiation Therapy. Once prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland, management is primarily in the form of hormonal ablation. Advanced disease that does not respond to hormonal manipulation is termed hormone independent.