Radical prostatectomy is the surgical removal of the whole prostate gland and the nearby lymph nodes. If you're in good health, the short-term risks of this surgery are low. The hospital stay is usually 2 to 3 days, with the catheter left in place for 2 weeks. You're usually able to go back to work in about 1 month. You shouldn't have severe pain with this surgery.
Most men regain bladder control a few weeks to several months after the surgery.
The main advantage of surgery is that it offers the most certain treatment. That is, if all of the cancer is removed during surgery, you are probably cured. Also, the surgery provides your doctor with accurate information about how advanced your cancer is, since the lymph nodes are taken out along with the tumor. Surgery does have risks and complications. You could lose a lot of blood during this surgery.