When Is Nerve-Sparing Surgery Refused?

March 16, 2009 -- Question: When is nerve-sparing surgery not an option in the treatment of prostate cancer?

Answer: Nerve-sparing surgery is not an option in men with very large tumors, particularly tumors that extend on each side into the area of these nerves which must be removed in order to get the nerve out. But it should be used in general for most men with prostate cancer, particularly those that are smaller, that are confined in the prostate or if the tumor extends near one nerve, one nerve can be removed while the other nerve is spared.