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About to have surgery and not sure if lymph node removal is a good thing or not

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User
Posted 25 Nov 2025 at 18:33

Hi,

I'm having my op next week to remove the prostate having been diagnosed earlier this year. I was told that the cancer is within the prostate and has not spread to nodes or bones. I suppose nothing is certain until after the op and the first test results come back.

My consultant informed me in our meeting that the removal of lymph nodes is no longer a given. He has a suggested I join a trial whereby a computer will decide if I have them removed or not. I'm not even sure at this stage if mine are being removed or not if I don't take part in the trial, I'm assuming they're not. 

I was hoping for feedback from anyone who had a prostatectomy and lymph node removal and what, if any extra issues that resulted in. I am aware that there are possible complications from the removal of the nodes for example nerves and or excess fluids but want to try and weigh up whether it is a risk worth taking.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Steven

User
Posted 25 Nov 2025 at 23:44

Hi Steven.

Welcome to the forum, mate.

I believe that the position of your lesion(s) within the prostate, how safely it's contained, your PSA level and your Gleason score, are all factors in deciding on the removal of nearby lymph nodes whilst doing RARP.

When I had RARP, I was T3a, capsular breach, Gleason 9 (4+5) but my PSA was only 7. The surgeon removed nine lymph nodes during the operation which were all clear. 

Three years later my PSA has remained undetectable, touchwood.

I dont think the removal of those lymph nodes has effected me in any way.

If I were you, I'd do the trial, and let the computer make the decision.

Good luck, mate. 👍

Edited by member 25 Nov 2025 at 23:47  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 26 Nov 2025 at 19:18

I had a procedure known as PLND (Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection) back in 2008.  At that time I had a question mark over one particular enlarged node, I came around after the operation to be told that they had 'harvested', their word for it, a total of 12 nodes.  The good news was that this confirmed the cancer hadn't spread and accordingly I was eligible for curative treatment.  However I subsequently had a problem with lymphoceles and post-op infections which delayed the curative RT, in the end after trying unsuccessfully to drain the lymphoceles, they went ahead with the RT.  But it all worked, I am still here now with Gleason 9.  Full details in my profile.   

 
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