Prostate cancer: Care after surgical treatment

To help speed your recovery from prostate cancer it's useful to know about some self-care you can do at home. However bear in mind that these are general guidelines and may not apply to every patient. Always follow your doctor's specific instructions for care after treatment.

Incision care

If you have stitches or clips, these may need to be removed seven to 10 days after the operation, usually by a community nurse after you have gone home. In some cases small strips of sterile adhesive tape will be used to close the incision site and may be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery. The incision should be kept clean and dry for one week after surgery. Take sponge baths instead of showers.

Do not go swimming until you have discussed this with your doctor at your follow-up appointment.

Pain relief

You will be given a prescription for pain relief after the procedure. You can also take paracetamol if that provides enough relief. Do not take aspirin or products containing aspirin for the first three days after the procedure.

Skin care

The incision area may be black and blue straight after the procedure. This will go away in a few days. You may feel numbness, tingling or discomfort. This is normal.

For pain you can take a mild painkiller such as low-dose paracetamol. One week after surgery you can take a warm shower, which may also provide comfort.

Exercise

Consult your doctor before resuming any physical activity.

Driving

Consult your doctor about when you can start driving again after surgery. Make sure to also check with your insurance company.

Sexual relations

Your doctor will let you know when you can go back to having sex.

When to call your doctor

When you return home from the hospital after prostate cancer treatment, call your doctor if you have:

• A fever higher than 38.3C (101F)
• Increased pain not relieved by pain medication
• Trouble urinating