What is a 'radical prostatectomy'?

What is a 'radical prostatectomy'?

Mark Vogel (Board Certified Urologist) gives expert video advice on: What is a 'radical prostatectomy'?; What are the advantages and disadvantages of radical prostatectomy?; What is the recovery time after radical prostatectomy? and more...

A radical prostatectomy, or a total prostatectomy, involves the surgical removal of the prostate gland, its adjacent organs, and generally lymph nodes nearby. We feel that if the prostate cancer is confined to the prostate and it's removed surgically, that this may represent the best chance for cure for that cancer, rather than using less invasive procedures such as <a href="http://www.videojug.com/interview/cryotherapy-2">cryotherapy</a>.