Prostate cancer operation recovery: what to expect

A catheter may remain in place while the connection between the bladder and urine channel heals. Your team will explain how to keep the tubing clean, keep the drainage bag below bladder level, and recognise a blocked catheter. Mild tiredness, bruising, wound discomfort, and changes in bowel habits can occur during early healing.

Urine leakage may happen when the catheter is removed. Pelvic-floor exercises, taught at the appropriate time, can support bladder control. Erections may take longer to return because nerves near the prostate can be disturbed even when surgeons try to spare them. Your follow-up includes review of healing, symptoms, and pathology.

Take medicines exactly as directed, drink according to your team’s advice, walk gently, and avoid strenuous lifting until cleared. Keep appointments so the incision, catheter, urinary control, and pathology can be reviewed. Ask when driving, work, bathing, sex, and exercise can safely resume for your situation.

Keep a simple record of urine leakage, pain, bowel function, temperature, and medicines. If difficulty passing urine develops after catheter removal, contact the surgical service promptly. Further treatment, including radiotherapy, is considered from the pathology and follow-up findings rather than from recovery symptoms alone.

Get urgent medical advice for fever, chills, worsening redness or drainage from the wound, heavy bleeding, severe or increasing pain, vomiting that prevents fluids, a swollen painful leg, chest pain, or breathlessness. Call the surgical team if the catheter stops draining, leaks around the tube with discomfort, or comes out.

When should the catheter be removed? Which activities are restricted? How should I perform pelvic-floor exercises? What is the plan for continence and erectile changes? When will pathology and PSA follow-up be discussed? Who should I contact outside clinic hours?