Surgery for Prostate Cancer

Marc Smaldone, MD, is a Fox Chase surgical oncologist who helps to develop individualized treatment plans for patients with prostate cancer.
Marc Smaldone, MD, is a Fox Chase surgical oncologist who helps to develop individualized treatment plans for patients with prostate cancer.

When prostate cancer is confined to a small area, localized therapies such as surgery, radiation and ablation focus only on that particular area, while the rest of your body is spared. If cancerous cells have spread to other parts of the body, these localized approaches may be combined with systemic treatments, depending on your situation.

Surgery for prostate cancer allows the complete removal of the cancer, while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. Fox Chase surgeons have proven experienced in tissue-sparing methods to remove the cancer, while preserving long-term urinary and sexual function.

Choosing surgery for prostate cancer depends on several key factors, including your stage of prostate cancer and overall health. Physicians at Fox Chase recommend the best surgical approach for each patient and discuss all treatment options with their patients. Your treatment plan may include one of the following surgical options:

Following surgery, world-class pathologists at Fox Chase assess the prostate tissue and pelvic lymph nodes, allowing them to more accurately assess prostate cancer staging. This additional information can help physicians determine the prognosis and direct the need for additional therapies such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy.