Prostate Cancer Surgery

Prostate cancer surgery can effectively treat cancer in men at any stage of the disease. At the Beaufort Memorial Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort and the New River Cancer Center in Okatie, our skilled urologists and oncologists specialize in traditional surgeries, robotic-assisted and laparoscopic surgeries, and newer minimally invasive alternatives that can reduce side effects and recovery times.

Your surgical team works with our radiation and medical oncologists to address all your treatment needs, and your dedicated cancer nurse navigator will support you and your family at every stage of your treatment journey, putting your health and well-being first.

Call 843-522-7800 (Beaufort) or 843-706-8660 (Okatie) to make an appointment or to find a urology specialist.

Advanced Prostate Cancer Surgeries and Therapies

Beaufort Memorial urologists work with our skilled oncology teams to offer many advanced prostate cancer treatments that can minimize side effects and give men with prostate cancer the best possible outcomes.

Our experienced physicians offer radical prostatectomy, the most common surgery for prostate cancer, as well as leading-edge laser therapies that deliver effective cancer treatments without the need for making large incisions.

Our multidisciplinary teams create personalized care plans that consider your type and stage of cancer and long-term goals.

Robotic Prostatectomy

Radical prostatectomy is the most common type of prostate cancer surgery. Your surgeon removes the entire prostate gland, surrounding tissue and the seminal vesicles (glands that produce semen).

At Beaufort Memorial, surgeons perform robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, which requires small incisions and can result in a shorter hospital stay, less blood loss and pain following surgery, and a lower risk of some complications.

During a robotic-assisted prostatectomy, small incisions are made in your abdomen while you are under general or spinal anesthesia. The surgeon inserts a laparoscope, a thin instrument with a camera, and surgical instruments. The camera transmits images to a monitor, while the surgeon controls robotic arms to carry out the procedure precisely.

An alternative option, an open retropubic prostatectomy, involves making a large cut in your lower abdomen to remove the prostate. This procedure is less common but available if your surgeon thinks it could be more effective.

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)

TURP may benefit men with advanced prostate cancer. A nonsurgical option commonly used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), TURP does not require any incisions and instead allows your surgeon to treat cancer using heat or lasers.

During TURP, your surgeon inserts an instrument called a resectoscope through your penis and urethra. Once the resectoscope reaches the prostate, the surgeon sends a small wire to the gland and sends heat or laser energy through the wire to destroy cancerous prostate tissue.

You will be offered either general or spinal anesthesia. You will typically stay in the hospital for one or two days.

Laser Ablation of the Prostate

Laser ablation of the prostate allows your urologist to destroy cancerous tissue without traditional surgery. Laser ablation may cause fewer side effects than prostate cancer surgery.

During laser ablation, your urologist inserts a catheter and uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide a laser to the tumor. The laser transmits targeted heat to destroy the cancer in a manner that spares nearby healthy tissue.

Laser Enucleation of the Prostate

Also known as holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), this treatment uses laser energy to remove prostate tissue. Like TURP, it’s more commonly used to treat BPH, but for men with prostate cancer, it offers a treatment option that does not require an incision and may have fewer side effects than prostate cancer surgeries.

While you are under general anesthesia, your surgeon inserts a catheter through your penis and uses a laser tool to cut prostate tissue blocking your urethra. Another device breaks up and removes the tissue.

HoLEP is often used in combination with radiation therapy. It is also an option for men with low-risk prostate cancer that is slow-growing.

Most patients can return home the same day and resume normal activities within a week.

Managing Side Effects of Prostate Cancer Surgery

Radical prostatectomy typically causes more side effects than other prostate cancer surgeries. Side effects can include urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction (including difficulty getting and keeping an erection) and other sexual issues.

The urology specialists at Beaufort Memorial will help you weigh the pros and cons of each procedure. They also offer comprehensive support throughout your recovery to help you manage possible side effects and limit their impact on your quality of life.

Incontinence

After prostate cancer surgery, you may develop stress incontinence (leaking when you cough or laugh), difficulty emptying your bladder or feeling a sudden urge to urinate. Older men tend to be more affected than younger men.

Most men find their bladder control returns gradually in the weeks and months following surgery. Your urology team can recommend treatments and therapy, such as pelvic floor exercises.

Sexual Issues

Your surgeon will take extreme care to avoid injuring the nerves around your prostate that control erections. However, if your cancer grows close to these nerves, they might need to be removed. You might still be able to get an erection using medication or other aids.

Some men report problems with orgasms after surgery. These tend to be “dry” since your seminal vesicles, which produce semen, are usually removed. If you want to have children after surgery, you can talk to your urology team about options for preserving your sperm.

Post-Surgical Support and Recovery

After your procedure, your urologist will monitor you closely to see if all the cancer is gone. If necessary, your urologist and oncology team may decide you need additional treatments, including radiation therapy and hormone therapy.

Your dedicated nurse navigator will help you manage all your treatments, whether you have surgery, an advanced laser therapy or additional cancer therapies. Your navigator can also help you develop a survivorship plan, including a schedule for follow-up appointments and advice for managing long-term side effects.