So, of the 47 people who were not helped by the surgery, roughly 24 are going to have at least one side effect. To recap: For every 48 prostate surgeries performed, 24 people who would have been fine without surgery experience a major side effect, while 1 person is cured. You are 24 times more likely to be harmed by the side effect than helped by the cure. Of men who undergo the surgery, 20% regret their decision. Clearly, it is important to factor quality of life into the decision.
