Information Centre
Articles on diagnosis, treatment and recovery, written by the team who carry out the surgery.
11 articles in Life After Treatment
Life After TreatmentPreparing Your Home & Life for Recovery: Practical Tips for the First 4 Weeks After SurgeryRecovering well after prostate cancer surgery doesn’t start when you walk through your front door – it begins before you leave the hospital. With a little planning, you can make the first month at home calmer, safer, and more predictable. This guide focuses on the first four weeks of prostate cancer surgery recovery, offering practical…Read article
Life After TreatmentExploring Nutrition and the Microbiome in Prostate Cancer RecoveryAfter a prostate cancer operation, recovery is about more than wound healing and follow‑up appointments. What you eat – and how well your gut recovers from anaesthesia, antibiotics, and the stress of surgery – can influence energy levels, bowel function, and overall outcomes. In this guide, we explore how nutrition and the microbiome can support…Read article
Life After TreatmentPossible symptoms & risk factors of prostate cancer: A checklist for menProstate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in UK men, accounting for nearly 28% of new male cancer cases each year. The encouraging news is that when caught early, the five‑year survival rate exceeds 95%, making timely checks invaluable. Overall, around one in six men will face a prostate cancer diagnosis during their lifetime,…Read article
Life After TreatmentTypes of prostate surgery explained: Open, laparoscopic and roboticHearing the word prostatectomy for the first time can feel abrupt, yet surgeons only place it on the table after they have weighed up your cancer’s stage, your overall fitness, and the life you want to lead once treatment is over. In this guide, we unpack the main types of prostate surgery, compare robotic-assisted…Read article
Life After TreatmentManaging the side effects of prostate cancer treatmentsProstate cancer treatments can be highly effective, often resulting in excellent long-term outcomes, especially when caught early. However, like any significant medical intervention, they are not without side effects. Whether you are preparing for treatment or navigating recovery, understanding how to manage these side effects is vital. Effective symptom control not only enhances quality…Read article
Life After TreatmentAn introduction to the use of catheters during and after radical prostatectomyOne of the commonest concerns voiced by patients contemplating having prostate cancer surgery is the prospect of having a catheter inserted in the penis for 1-2 weeks after the operation to drain urine while your bladder is healing from the operation. In this article I explain why this should not be something to fear,…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
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
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
Life After TreatmentNerve regeneration after radical prostatectomyNerve regeneration after radical prostatectomy (and the subsequent return of erectile function) usually does take some time, assuming that both nerve bundles around the prostate were able to be preserved by the surgeon. This is because the nerves and arteries that control erections need time to recover and heal. This article explains why this…Read article
Life After TreatmentCan a man have a normal sex life after prostate surgery?Introduction Many men worry about enjoying a normal sex life after prostate surgery, as the removal of the prostate during surgery (radical prostatectomy) means that the pathway of sperm from the testicles is interrupted (just as it is following a vasectomy done for family planning). Furthermore, the seminal vesicles, which produce the rest of the…Read article
