| Pros: |
Cons: |
| Widely considered to be the gold standard (the standard by which other treatments are judged) |
It is still a major operation with considerable discomfort and time away from normal activities |
| Long term cure rates are well proven and compare favorably to other treatments |
Many patients are not good candidates for surgery for a variety of reasons |
The surgery has improved dramatically over the past 15 to 20 years:
- Faster
- Less blood loss
- Less invasive
- Shorter hospitalization
- Less risk of impotence and incontinence
|
The quality of results is dependent upon the patient, the surgeon, and the institution where the surgery is performed |
| PSA is usually 0 after surgery which makes follow up easier and less anxiety provoking |
The chance of long term urinary incontinence is the highest of all the major treatments |
| Urination is usually very comfortable, even improved, after surgery |
As with other treatments, there is no guarantee of cure |
| |
Some patients are not pleased with the results, for a variety of reasons |