Radical prostatectomy very effective for localized prostate cancer

Mayo Clinic experts examine long-term data to determine rate of survival in patients after undergoing a radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

The operation, a radical prostatectomy, removes tissue surrounding, and the prostate gland itself.

In the study, researchers examined data on 10,332 men who underwent the procedure between the years of 1987 and 2004.

Examining factors like overall survival, progression-free and cancer-specific survival, and prostate cancer recurrence between 5 and 20 years, it was discovered only 3 percent died due to prostate cancer. Cancer spreading to other organs was present in 5 percent, and local recurrence was evident in 6 percent of patients. Average survival time of men in this study was 19 years, and 8,000 men are alive today. The research follow-up time was 11 years on average.

These data explain this procedure as very a very effective treatment for men who have localized prostate cancer.