Life After Prostate Cancer Surgery
Regain control and confidence after prostate cancer surgery with expert guidance and personalized support from our Award Winning Team. Our London clinic helps men navigate recovery, manage side effects, and rebuild quality of life, aiming to return to as normal as life as possible after prostate cancer surgery.
About Us
The Life after Prostate Surgery (LAPS) Clinic was developed by Maj Shabbir and Arun Sahai, Consultant Urologists at Guy’s Hospital, leaders in the field of andrology and functional urology.
This new clinic is based on their award-winning Post Prostate Surgery (PPS) Project, which they launched at Guy’s Hospital in 2019. This international, multi-award-winning project redefined the way patients are managed after robotic radical prostatectomy.
It focuses on taking a proactive approach, even before surgery, and optimising the speed and extent of functional recovery after robotic surgery. Their work helps men achieve their maximum potential of returning to life as normal after all prostate cancer treatment, using the latest evidence-based therapy.
Sexual Consequences of Prostate Cancer Surgery
All prostate cancer treatments can affect sexual function in different ways and to different extents. Here at the LAPS Clinic, we can give you independent advice on the impact of treatment on sexual function and explore options to proactively manage this, even before your cancer treatment.
While there is often a big focus on erectile dysfunction after prostate cancer treatment, this is only one of the possible sexual consequences men may experience. Other issues include:
- Loss of penile length
- Development of a curvature in the penis (Peyronie’s Disease)
- Loss of ejaculation
- Loss of the ability to have children with intercourse
- Painful ejaculation
- Climacturia (leak of urine at the time of orgasm)
At the LAPS Clinic, we can talk you through options to manage and mitigate these issues, ways to preserve your fertility, and can offer reconstructive or penile implant surgery if needed for the most complex issues.
Urinary Consequences
All treatments for prostate cancer have the potential to affect how you pass urine, and in particular the control of your bladder. This can lead to issues such as incontinence (leakage of urine).
Taking a proactive approach, starting even before your surgery, the team at the LAPS Clinic can identify aspects of your body and health that can make you more likely to have issues, and generate bespoke, evidence-based plans that change with your needs to guide you to the quickest recovery.
For those who develop problems that require more input, we are able to provide whatever treatment is needed, including:
• Physiotherapy & biofeedback for pelvic floor exercises
• Surgical treatment for urethral strictures and bladder neck stenosis, including the latest technology and reconstructive techniques
• Artificial urinary sphincters (AUS) & male slings for significant urine leaks
• Botox/neuromodulation for bladder symptoms
• Laser treatment of radiation-induced haematuria (blood in urine)
Let Us Help
Our multi-disciplinary team of dedicated specialists are internationally recognised specialists in their field who work with prostate cancer surgeons and oncologists. Our team includes:
Consultant urologists with a specialist interest in andrology (men’s health, including the medical and surgical management of erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease, urethral strictures, and infertility)
Consultant urologist with a specialist interest in functional urology (issues with bladder function and incontinence, including the surgical management of these conditions)
Consultant with a specialist interest in prostate surgery and bladder cancer surgery
Clinical nurse specialists, physiotherapists, and psychosexual counsellors
What do patients do after prostate cancer
Recovering from prostate cancer surgery can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. After surgery, men often face a range of physical and emotional challenges, from managing side effects to regaining strength and confidence.
At our London clinic, we provide personalised guidance to help men recover safely, address common concerns, and regain quality of life. With the right support, your recovery can be smoother and more confident.
Your recovery after prostate cancer surgery
- Recovering from prostate cancer surgery can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. After surgery, men often face a range of physical and emotional challenges, from managing side effects to regaining strength and confidence.
- At our London clinic, we provide personalised guidance to help men recover safely, address concerns, and return to a good quality of life. With the right support, your recovery can be smoother and more confident.
- Every recovery journey is unique. Some men may need extra support with urinary control, sexual health, or emotional well-being. With targeted post-surgery care, our proactive approach allows you optimise your recovery in the most effective way.
Our Post-Surgery Support Services
We offer comprehensive post-surgery support to help men recover comfortably, manage side effects, and regain confidence every step of the way.
Physiotherapy and Pelvic Floor Exercises
Our specialized physiotherapy programs focus on strengthening the pelvic floor muscles to improve urinary control and support sexual health.
Counselling and Emotional Support
We provide one-on-one counseling to help men and their families cope with the emotional challenges of prostate cancer recovery.
Treatments for Sexual Dysfunction
Our team will guide you through the use of traction devices and medical therapies to optimise recovery of your sexual function. Psychosexual counsellors are at hand to help guide you through the impact of surgery on your confidence and intimacy.
Treatments for Ongoing Urinary Symptoms
From surgical treatments for persistent incontinence or strictures to advanced therapies for bladder dysfunction, our team can guide you to the most appropriate and effective treatment for your issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does recovery take after prostate cancer surgery?
Recovery varies per individual, but it takes most people about 6 weeks to overcome the initial surgery. Full recovery of urinary and sexual function takes longer.
Will I gain full urinary control after surgery?
Most men regain some urinary control with pelvic floor exercises and physiotherapy by 12 weeks. Some may require additional interventions for full recovery.
Can sexual function return to normal after surgery?
Sexual function is often the slowest to improve after surgery. Early proactive intervention and professional guidance increase the likelihood of regaining function. While there are some aspects of sexual function which will always be different after surgery, all men are able to get back to sexual activity using one form of treatment or another.
What lifestyle changes help after prostate surgery?
A healthy diet, regular gentle exercise, pelvic floor training, and stress management support recovery and overall well-being.
When Should I seek advice about my functional recovery?
The best time to see us is even before you have surgery to set you on the right path from day 1. If this is not possible the evidence shows the earlier you can be seen and started onto proactive treatments the better (within the first 4 weeks). If there has been some time since your surgery, it’s still good to see someone from our team who can improve your function and get you onto the best evidence based treatments.