Surgical removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy)

The only other treatment besides radiation clearly proven to cure prostate cancer is a radical prostatectomy. This is considered a major operation that typically takes two to three hours. It involves making an incision (cut) in either the lower abdomen or the perineum to surgically remove the prostate gland. Usually hospitalization is required for a few days, and a catheter needs to be used for a few weeks following the procedure. A radical prostatectomy can only cure men when the cancer is completely removed. If surgery leaves behind even a few cancer cells, these can regrow and ultimately spread.