The PSA came back a little high, then higher. An MRI, a biopsy, and now a word on the page: adenocarcinoma. Many men hear “prostate cancer” and assume an operation must follow. Often it should not — or not yet. For others, robotic surgery is an excellent choice. This guide lays out the options side by side, so the decision is yours and well informed.
First, how risky is this cancer?
Prostate cancers range from slow, small cancers that may never cause harm to aggressive ones that need prompt treatment. Doctors sort them using the PSA level, the MRI, and the biopsy’s Gleason score (now often reported as a Grade Group from 1 to 5), plus scans when needed to check for spread. Together these place a cancer in a low, intermediate or high-risk group.
Send all of these, including the MRI images and the biopsy report. Indian pathologists can also review the biopsy slides. Our US$99 consultation includes two calls, so a urologist can give an opinion and a radiation oncologist can give another — the two treat the same disease in different ways.
The options, side by side
- Active surveillance. For many low-risk cancers, regular PSA tests, MRIs and repeat biopsies, with treatment only if the cancer shows signs of change. It avoids the side effects of treatment for cancers that may never need it.
- Radical prostatectomy. Removing the prostate, today often with a surgical robot that gives the surgeon a magnified 3D view and fine instruments.
- Radiotherapy. External beam radiotherapy, sometimes with short-term hormone therapy, or brachytherapy (radioactive seeds). For many localised cancers, its cure rates are comparable to surgery’s; the side effects differ.
- Hormone therapy and newer medicines. Mainly for cancer that has spread or come back.
- Watchful waiting. For some older men or those with other serious illnesses, managing symptoms if and when they arise.
We never push surgery. The best choice depends on the cancer, your age and health, and what matters most to you.
What robotic surgery can and cannot do
The robot does not operate by itself; a surgeon controls every movement from a console. Its advantages are smaller cuts, less blood loss and usually a shorter hospital stay. The two side effects men worry about most — leaking urine and difficulty with erections — depend more on the cancer, the man’s age and function before surgery, and the surgeon’s experience than on the robot. Most men regain good bladder control over weeks to months; erections can take longer and may not fully return.
Ask the surgeon how many robotic prostatectomies they have done, and what their own patients’ continence results look like.
What it costs
PACE Hospitals publishes ₹1.8–2.8 lakh (about US$1,900–2,950) for radical prostatectomy, whether open, keyhole or robotic. Robotic surgery generally sits at the upper end and can cost more at some centres, because robotic instruments add to the bill. In the UK, Cleveland Clinic London lists robotic prostatectomy from £22,200; Spire Healthcare’s 2021 guide price for a radical prostatectomy was £14,487. Ask for a written estimate that says whether the robot fee, lymph node removal and the pathology report are included. Package prices are per person and exclude flights. Indian figures are hospital-published estimates, not quotes; your own estimate comes after a doctor reviews your reports.
Your two weeks, step by step
- Send PSA, MRI and biopsyPlus any PSMA-PET or bone scan
- Two opinionsA urologist and a radiation oncologist review your options
- Arrival and testsBlood tests, ECG, anaesthetist review
- Robotic surgeryUsually 2–4 hours; often 1–3 nights in hospital
- Catheter periodA urinary catheter stays in for about a week or more
- Catheter removal and pelvic floor teachingExercises start straight away
- Pathology reviewThe final report guides follow-up
- Fly homeWith a PSA schedule for your doctor
Most men arrive through Delhi; Chandigarh is about an hour by air, and its flat, shady sectors are good for the daily walks that help recovery. Pack loose trousers and pads for the first weeks after the catheter comes out.
After treatment
Partners often carry much of the worry and many of the practical tasks. Bring yours to the consultations if you can; questions about continence, intimacy and recovery are easier when both of you hear the answers. Men who choose active surveillance also benefit from a clear written schedule of tests, so nothing slips once you are home.
Your PSA should fall to a very low level after surgery; your doctor will check it every few months at first. Keep doing the pelvic floor exercises. Help for erection problems — medicines, devices and other treatments — is available and worth asking about early, not after months of worry.
Preguntas que hacer
- What is my risk group, and is active surveillance reasonable?
- How do surgery and radiotherapy compare for a man like me?
- How many robotic prostatectomies have you done?
- Will you try to spare the nerves that control erections?
- What PSA follow-up will I need at home?
Read our cancer care guide, why we start with a second opinion, or book a consultation and send your reports.
Independent research. Figures are quoted from the official and published sources listed below, as they stood when we checked them (October 2026). BookMedTrip is an independent facilitator and is not affiliated with any government body, hospital, charity or organisation named here, and receives no commission from them. If anything here is out of date or inaccurate, please write to care@bookmedtrip.com and we will correct it.
Preguntas
How much does robotic prostate surgery cost in India?
PACE Hospitals publishes ₹1.8–2.8 lakh (about US$1,900–2,950) for radical prostatectomy, including robotic; robotic surgery usually sits at the top of the range or above. In the UK, Cleveland Clinic London lists it from £22,200.
Do all prostate cancers need surgery?
No. Many low-risk cancers are safely managed with active surveillance, and radiotherapy is an alternative to surgery for many localised cancers.
How long do I stay in India after robotic prostatectomy?
About two weeks, including the catheter period, its removal and a review of the pathology report.
