What is it?

A radical prostatectomy is an operation to remove the prostate gland and some nearby tissue to treat prostate cancer. It is done when the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate. Sometimes nearby lymph nodes are also removed during the surgery.

The surgery takes place in the hospital while you are asleep under anesthesia. A cut is made in the lower belly so the surgeon can remove the prostate. After the prostate is removed, a small tube called a catheter is left in the bladder to help urine drain while you heal. This catheter will be removed by your doctor at a later time.

Most people stay in the hospital for a few days and continue healing at home.

Procedure Time: Average length of stay in hospital is 1-2 days

Preparation:

• Try to abstain from smoking for 4 weeks prior to surgery. Consider speaking to your family doctor about smoking cessation as needed

• Abstain from alcohol for 4 weeks prior to surgery

• Try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day to maintain your muscle mass

• Visit a pelvic floor physiotherapist prior to your surgery for counselling about pelvic floor muscle strengthening

• Review this handout on Pelvic Floor Exercises you can try at home to prepare for the surgery

• You can eat a regular diet up to the night before your surgery.

• No specific mechanical bowel preparation is required prior to your surgery

Medications

• You will receive instructions about which of your home medications are appropriate to continue taking and which to hold temporarily immediately prior to your surgery.

• If you are on blood thinners, you will have received specific instructions about how many day(s) you should hold these before the operation. 

  If you are unsure about any of these instructions, please contact our office ASAP for clarification so that your operation is not delayed

Post Procedure:

• You will have a catheter and a small pelvic drain after the surgery. You will receive teaching about how to care for both of these while in hospital. 

• The catheter will remain in for about 10-14 days after surgery. CCAC Home Care will be arranged to help care for this. 

• In some cases, you may go home with a drain as well. CCAC will also help with this. 

• No heavy lifting over 20lb for 6 weeks after your surgery. Light activity such as walking is encouraged and will help your recovery

• You will be seen within 2 weeks of your surgery for assessment of your surgical site and removal of the catheter. The exact timing of this will be individualized to your case. 

• You can resume pelvic physiotherapy as needed after your 6 week follow up appointment with your surgeon

For detailed recovery instructions and additional information, please refer to the attached Post Prostatectomy Discharge Instructions below.