Simple Prostatectomy - HOLEP

I went to a social event last night and spoke to a guy who just had a simple prostatectomy using the HOLEP method.

I asked if that was performed for his BHP. He stated that it was for treatment of his low grade prostate cancer. He stated that he had G6 in a couple of cores. He also stated that it was determined that he did not have cancer in the outer membrane.

Can a simple prostatectomy, HOLEP or other methods, be used for the treatment of low grade cancer like G6?

Htownman, HoLEP appears a great option for BPH. You maybe fortunate that it caught your cancer; however, that procedure typically is not for that purpose. Please stay vigilant since some PCa can remain in the peripheral zone.

HoLEP is great technology and a number of guys following this forum and suffering from BPH might benefit from your experience. Feel free to share that experience on the form. Best wishes. Terry

ASAdvocate said...
I am in similar situation where I have had Gleason 6 prostate cancer since 2009, but now have no choice but to deal with my BPH.

Potomac Urology has recommended doing two BPH procedures within a week of each other. Prostate Artery Embolization will stop the blood flow to the prostate. That, by itself, will eventually shrink the prostate by 30 percent. But, the second procedure will be aquablation, which has proven to be as effective as TURP in removing prostate tissue. Aquablation tends to be bloody, but the PAE will have blocked off the blood supply, so I should go home the same day.

Nothing from these procedures would preclude any treatment of the prostate cancer, should it ever become aggressive.

One thing you will miss out on is a pathology review of the removed tissue, which a TURP or HoLEP will give you but aquablation won’t. Small tradeoff.

This site has good info, even if the interface is atrocious. Lots of discussions on aquablation, all seem to be positive. Initial recovery seems to be a grind.

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/browse/prostate-problems-1772

I am going to have to research this therapy as not being eligible for any kind of surgery, I don’t know anything about it! The first thing that comes to mind is why you would subject your body to that kind of abuse for a G6 I understand the BPH issues, and if, I am clear on this, It sounds as though this procedure removes the inner core of the prostate and leaves the outer membranes behind. I guess I don’t see the point of using it as cancer treatment as you really wouldn’t know if you got the cancer and if it’s G6, why worry about it . I hope this doesn’t come off as condescending. I’m actually asking these questions to educate myself a little more on the subject. It is my understanding there is discussion of G6 no longer being called cancer but rather precancerous cells.

Thanks all for the replies.

The guy I spoke to at the social event is an intelligent guy who I have respect for. But I don't think he really had a grasp of what was done to his prostate. He did not know if they tested the removed tissue, which I know they do. He stated they removed the entire internal part of the prostate, which I don't think is possible. He had one core of G6 so possibly they removed that portion of the prostate. He did have bad BPH which I suspect was the main driver for the procedure.

Where is he located?