What's radical prostatectomy like for low-risk prostate cancer?

This is such an important decision, and it's great that you're taking time to gather information from others who've walked this path. Many community members have found it helpful to hear about different experiences with radical prostatectomy, especially when weighing it against other treatment options like radiation and active surveillance. The choice often comes down to personal factors like age, lifestyle, risk tolerance, and individual preferences about potential side effects. Connecting with others who've faced similar decisions can provide valuable insights as you work with your medical team to determine the best approach for your specific situation.

While gathering community experiences is definitely valuable, I'd also encourage you to ask your doctor specifically about your Gleason score, PSA levels, and staging results - those details can really help narrow down which treatment path might be the best fit for your particular situation.

Dear Mike C: Unless there’s something about your case that’s very serious or very complex and you failed to mention it, I STRONGLY recommend you go with monitoring at the most, and prostatectomy would seem to be an extreme and ridiculous overtreatment—even though it's done all the time. I am three years into a nightmare originating with Stage 1, PSA 6.7, Gleason 4+4, single-core, 0.83 mm—leading to what now seems certainly to have been over diagnosis and overtreatment, from which I’m unlikely to ever recover a decent quality of life. And I hasten to add that the CANCER has never caused me so much as an itch. ALL of my debilitations and disabilities result from cancer TREATMENT. I had 42x EBRT and 4 months ADT from Jan. 31, 2024 to June 13, 2024, and the negative impacts and effects have been mounting ever since. Always bear in mind: Your so-called “Care Team” has every reason to treat in as many ways as possible and no reason to simply monitor. I wish I’d recognized these facts from the outset. ONLY YOU are the advocate for you, and you’re up against an entire medical-industrial complex. STAY STRONG AND KEEP READING OUTCOMES4ME!

My Gleason score is 3+4. Im in stage T1c

It’s important to know your age and other factors such as your vitality. Have you had an MRI or a biopsy yet? I ended up having a radical prostatectomy. I am 63 years old, otherwise very healthy and athletic, biking regularly and doing weight training. My PSA spiked to 4.4 from 2.9 the year prior. I ended up having an MRI which indicated there was a lesion within the prostate, and then I had a biopsy, which indicated 4 of the 13 cores being 3+4; 5 cores being 3+3; and 4 being benign. They treat everything as 7, consequently. Mine was categorized as stage 2, intermediate unfavorable risk. I also had a PSMA PET scan which indicated there was no spread, confirming that the cancer was localized within the prostate. I was given the option of having the prostate removed and also going the route of radiation and hormone therapy. Both would’ve been equally effective I was told. I elected to have the prostate removed. Everything was a great success and I’ve had two PSA‘s since the surgery last September and both have come back the best possible result, undetectable. I have no regrets about the surgery. I have not had any issues with incontinence. There are issues with ED, but I’m advise that as I had good function before I will again. If you have a radical prostatectomy, it’s all about the expertise of the surgeon. Mine was laparoscopic/robotic at Johhns Hopkins. I had a superb surgeon.

I'm 62. I have chosen to have the prostate removed. I just hope im making the correct decision. The procedure will be robotic assisted. The doctor is also a professor in the field. I feel very fortunate to have that availability.

To Mike C, again—I think you’re in great shape and will come through this fine. The main reason: you’ve considered your decision carefully and gathered wide opinion of numerous patients who’ve been through the process. Secondary reason: You’re young, a statistically significant factor in coming through RP with minimal and often transitory negative effects. Please keep posting on O4M to let us know what develops and, more importantly, pass your experience to the future patients who are yet to make their own treatment decisions.

I absolutely will keep updating as this progresses

I seriously hope the best for all cancer patients for the best outcomes .