• Radical open prostatectomy:

This involves removing the prostate through an incision made in the lower part of the abdomen. If necessary, lymph nodes and seminal vesicles will be removed during the procedure. The aim of the operation is to eliminate any and all cancer cells.

The most common side effects after this operation are urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

This type of surgery is normally used in select cases, as nowadays the surgery of choice is keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery.

• Keyhole surgery (laparoscopic prostatectomy):

Unlike open prostatectomy, this surgery does not require an incision in the lower part of the abdomen; rather, the prostate is removed through small holes the surgeon makes in the abdomen.

The surgeon inserts a tube (called a laparoscope) through the holes and, using a camera attached to the end of the tube, excises the prostate and the surrounding tissue.

The recovery time is shorter than with open surgery.

• Robot-assisted prostatectomy (DaVinci robotic surgery):

The surgery and procedure are the same as described above; the only difference is that the surgery is done by a robot controlled by the surgeon.

This is a very novel technique, and not all hospitals possess this technology.