Radical Cystectomy

What is a radical cystectomy?

A radical cystectomy is a surgical procedure in which the entire bladder is removed. This surgery is used to treat the aggressive and invasive type of bladder cancer, which tends to spread to other areas of the body if left untreated. Given the importance of the bladder and the potential mortality of this type of bladder cancer, this surgery is extremely delicate and requires an experienced surgeon.

What can I expect during the procedure?

At South Bay Urology, we can perform the radical cystectomy with both the robotic and the traditional open surgical technique. For men, the bladder, prostate, seminal vesicles (the glands above the prostate, behind the bladder and in front of the rectum) and surrounding lymph nodes are removed. For women, the bladder is removed, and often the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, part of the vagina and the surrounding lymph nodes.

For both men and women, a urinary diversion is then performed, which involves using a segment of the intestine to either build a new bladder (neobladder) or make a tube to collect urine in a bag on the skin.

Schedule an appointment in Southern California

If you suffer from bladder cancer and require surgery, the physicians at South Bay Urology in Torrance, California can help. Combining experience with advanced techniques, we can remove your cancer and put you on a quicker road to recovery. To find out how we can help you, request an appointment online or give us a call at (310) 542-0199.