You’re Considering Surgery for Early-Stage Disease

Knowing what to expect before, during, and after surgery for the treatment of early-stage disease will help in the decision-making process when choosing the best therapeutic strategy.

• Which surgical technique will be used?
• Based on your experience, why is this the right approach for me?
• Do you plan to employ a nerve-sparing technique with the aim of conserving my ability to get an erection following surgery?
• What level of success have you had in preserving potency (ability to get an erection) in your patients following surgery?
• What about preserving urinary continence (bladder control)?
• What will you do if you find cancer outside of my prostate during the surgery?
• Will that change my prognosis and future treatment?
• Do I need to be concerned about blood loss during the surgery? Should I store my blood or get my family and friends to donate blood in case it is needed?
• What can I expect following the surgery in terms of recovery time? How long will it be before I can return to my normal activities?
• What are the likely or possible side effects of the surgery, both short-term and long-term?
• What will we do to monitor my prostate cancer following the surgery?