Surgery - After Treatment
At the Weiser Center, we are committed to excellence in patient-centered cancer care long after your treatment. Just as we are with you before and during treatment, we continue to deliver the compassionate, world-class cancer care you and your partner or caregiver count on to help ensure your healthy future.
What to Expect
Following prostate surgery you may be wondering, “When will I regain urinary control and sexual function?”
The time it takes to regain urinary control is different for everyone, but it usually lies between one and three months, and in some cases, up to six. Pelvic floor physical therapy, such as Kegel exercises, helps strengthen the urinary sphincter and can speed the natural healing process. This physical therapy starts after your Foley catheter is removed, and typically lasts 6-8 weeks.
Regaining erectile function can take longer than restoring urinary control, often depending upon how much of the surrounding nerves your surgeon was able to preserve, and the strength of your erectile function prior to surgery. In general, sexual recovery can take three months to a year and a half, and permanent dysfunction is a possibility, depending largely on these two factors.
Penile rehabilitation involves medication, such as Viagra or Cialis, and physical therapy. Physical therapy involves using a vacuum device to stretch the penis to prevent scar tissue from forming and keep the soft tissue healthy. While you may start medication as soon as the Foley catheter is removed, penile rehabilitation exercises usually start a month or two later. Instructions and demonstrations will be provided by the urology nursing staff at the Foley catheter removal appointment.
Surveillance After Treatment and Follow-Up Care
Regular follow-up care after prostate cancer surgery is essential in order to ensure complete recovery and monitor for the possibility of your cancer returning (known as recurrence). These visits are an opportunity for you and your loved ones to discuss any concerns or lifestyle changes that can improve your overall health. The specific schedule and type of follow-up may vary based on the initial treatment, the characteristics of your particular type of prostate cancer, and your individual situation. Typically, follow-up visits occur every three to six months for the first couple of years and then less frequently after that. During these visits, you’ll have a PSA blood test in order to monitor for recurrence.
With surgery, your PSA levels should decrease and stabilize at a low level, below 0.1 ng/ml. If there is a rise in your PSA above 0.1 ng/ml, it could be an indication that your cancer has returned. In that case, we will schedule additional imaging studies such as a PSMA-PET scan to evaluate check for any visible cancer recurrence.
This is why it is so important that you keep all your regular follow-up visits. If there is recurrence, we will likely detect it early, when it is easiest to treat. The standard treatment option for recurrence following surgery is radiation treatment and possibly hormone therapy.
Expert, Patient-Centered Care
At the Weiser Center for Prostate Cancer, we lead with empathy and respect each patient’s individual concerns, fostering a warm and receptive environment that honors your journey and includes your partner and caregiver. We deeply value the trust you place in us to care for you and strive to exceed your expectations, supporting you through every step of your follow-up care.