The gold standard for treating early , localized prostate cancer is radical retropubic prostatectomy . The whole prostate and seminal vesicles are removed .
Computer - or robot-assisted surgery was cleared by the fda in 2005 for use in all urological procedures , including the removal of the prostate ( radical prostatectomy ) because of cancer .
Surgical removal of the prostate gland ( radical prostatectomy ) and surrounding tissue as treatment for prostate cancer may cause urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction .