Information Centre
Articles on diagnosis, treatment and recovery, written by the team who carry out the surgery.
64 articles · page 5 of 6
TreatmentWhat can I expect during and after robotic radical prostatectomy?In the last year or so, I’ve spent quite a bit of time writing about choosing a treatment for prostate cancer, and even more time writing about life after treatment in terms of recovery of erections and continence. What isn’t often discussed is the actual operation itself, and the several weeks of recovery that…Read article
TreatmentWhat is the best treatment for early stage prostate cancer?Many of our patients have their prostate cancer diagnosed early, giving them an extremely high chance of a long-term cure with limited side effects, if any. Once they are diagnosed and they have come to terms with their condition, their mind soon turns to the best way to treat it. There is a lot…Read article
TreatmentRobotic vs open prostatectomy: Which is right for you?When facing a prostate cancer diagnosis, many men find themselves weighing the choice between open and robotic-assisted prostatectomy. Both are established surgical methods for removing the prostate gland, yet the technology, recovery time, and long-term outcomes can vary. Recent studies and growing clinical experience have fuelled a lively debate about which option is best. This…Read article
TreatmentThe ProtecT trial: active surveillance or active treatment for prostate cancer?One of the most difficult decisions for any man with prostate cancer is deciding what treatment would be best for them. Of course, they take advice from their urologist, but in my experience many also seek out information themselves, looking to established research and charities like Prostate Cancer UK for information on what treatments…Read article
TreatmentAn introduction to Retzius-sparing radical prostatectomyIn this post, I want to talk about a newer modification of radical prostatectomy that I have been practising for some time. As my patient results have come in – and as other centres have published theirs – it has become clear that this technique, known as Retzius‑sparing radical prostatectomy, is transforming early outcomes…Read article
Life After TreatmentTaking Viagra after a prostatectomyIntroduction Unlike taking Viagra before a prostatectomy (where there is little proof of a benefit to erections after a prostatectomy), taking Viagra after a prostatectomy (or other tablets from the same Viagra family) is a key part of the recovery process for men to re-attain their erections. In short, the increased blood flow to…Read article
TreatmentTaking Viagra before a prostatectomyIntroduction I often have patients ask if they should be taking Viagra before a prostatectomy to improve their potency after the operation, and if there are any benefits to it. My own experience (which is to be backed up by other scientific research on the matter) is that there is mostly no benefit to…Read article
TreatmentIf I have prostate surgery privately will the NHS look after me?One of the greatest concerns voiced by uninsured patients who choose to pay for surgery themselves (‘self-funding’) is ‘if I have prostate surgery privately will the NHS look after me afterwards?’ The answer is unequivocally ‘yes’. The NHS is very flexible in this regard – if you are a UK (or EU, at least…Read article
TreatmentSurgery After HIFUIntroduction Occasionally I have patients coming to see me to enquire about surgery after HIFU treatment has not cured their cancer completely. In some cases, it comes back quite aggressively, so I wanted to write this article to explain what can be done for such patients and what the prognosis can be. How HIFU…Read article
Life After TreatmentProstate cancer recurrence after prostatectomy: why does it happen and how do we treat it?The concept of prostate cancer recurrence after prostatectomy puzzles many patients. A frequently asked question is ‘how can the cancer come back if the prostate has been removed?’ The explanation is that, as with any cancer, if cancerous cells migrate out of the organ in which they arose before the organ is removed (or…Read article
Testing & DiagnosisTransrectal or transperineal prostate biopsy: which is best?Introduction As enlightened readers of the Prostate Cancer Information Centre will know by now, the PSA test on its own cannot tell us if a patient has prostate cancer (many patients with prostate cancer in fact do not have an abnormal PSA level) – it is only an indicator, although generally a reliable one….Read article
Life After TreatmentExercise After Radical ProstatectomyIntroduction One of the major benefits of keyhole surgery compared to open surgery is a much faster return to normal activities and general exercise. However, radical prostatectomy is still a major operation for a patient to undergo that requires many weeks for the body to fully recover, so it’s important to understand what you…Read article
