WHAT TO ASK YOUR SURGEON

REGARDLESS of whether you have robot, keyhole or open surgery, the most important factor in the operation’s success and the patient’s recovery is the skill and experience of the surgical team.

Under NICE guidelines, prostatectomy should not be carried out by teams who do fewer than 50 procedures each year, and surgeons who currently carry out fewer than five prostatectomies a year should refer patients to designated surgeons who specialise in this type of surgery.

As GP Dr Thomas Stuttaford, a veteran campaigner for prostate cancer awareness and himself a prostate cancer survivor, explains: ‘Whatever method you choose, you should ask your surgeon how many procedures they have carried out and what their personal results are.’

You can also visit the website baus.org.uk — search under the Patients heading — to find data on surgeons’ results.