Prostate surgery is safe for older men. Men over age 70 who have prostate cancer are less likely to undergo radical prostatectomy to remove the prostate gland.
Recent finding: Age alone does not make prostate surgery more risky.
But: Men who have heart disease or high blood pressure or who are obese are more likely to die of complications after prostate surgery. Other alternatives for early-stage prostate cancer include radiation treatment, which some studies have indicated has similar outcomes to surgery...and watchful waiting (also known as active surveillance), in which the patient is monitored for signs that the cancer is worsening before any treatment is begun.
Want to Keep Reading?
Continue reading with a Health Confidential membership.
