Pioneering prostate cancer surgeon, Arnon Krongrad, M.D., of Aventura Hospital and Medical Center said observations reported at the 2006 World Congress of Endourology validate reports made by individual patients: urinary and erectile function can return slowly after radical prostate cancer surgery. The observations suggest that urinary and erectile functions may continue to improve for two years and more after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), a minimally invasive form of prostate cancer surgery.
“These observations are important for two reasons. First of all, patients become anguished by early dysfunction. Knowing that function sometimes returns slowly, not quickly, offers hope, which can help reduce the emotional impact of the dysfunction. Perhaps more subtle, but as important, is the observations’ implicit warning: be slow to apply irreversible, risky, and/or painful remedies, as these may be unnecessary,” said Dr. Krongrad. “In recovery from prostate cancer surgery, patience can be a virtue.” Unlike the open radical prostatectomy, which requires a large abdominal incision, the LRP is performed through tiny punctures. The LRP is associated with profound reductions in bleeding, pain, and time for convalescence. Few studies have tracked recovery of urinary and erectile function so long after any form of prostate cancer surgery.
According to the study, 94 percent of men who had the LRP were using one or no incontinence pads per day at two years after surgery, and 74 percent of those who were potent before the procedure reported having intercourse after two years. The data show continuing improvement from six months to two years after surgery.
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