Hi,
I would like to remind us that it's not ok to name names of doctors and then complain about them on a public forum...so... please consider removing personal names, for your own safety, as this is against the law (and guidelines) and might get you or the forum in trouble.
That all being said, Steinberg practically wrote the guidelines! Emedicine.com is one of the best sites out there and he wrote their article for bladder cancer (there are many many other articles about TCC, upper tract, CIS, cystectomy, etc etc, highly recommended if you are looking for further info though it's for professionals and a bit daunting if you don't know the terminology yet.
It sounds like the surgeon didn't want to extend the procedure for some reason. It could even have been the choice of the anesthesiologist, who knows. Perhaps there was a frozen section taken to check for clear margins in pathology, and maybe the surgeon was told it was all clear.
Have follow up tests shown cancerous cells? cytology, FISH or other test?
What is the risk vs. benefit for having a second surgery. Let your father be convinced he's making the right decision.
The trend is towards removing surrounding organs or tissue only when absolutely necessary; newer studies are suggesting that recurs in the urethra are less common than thought, unless certain risk factors are present, then it's time to take the urethra as well. This goes for women as well as men. Men don't have to worry about getting the hysterectomy that was common until recently for female RC candidates. But if CIS was present, or involvement of the prostatic urethra was seen, these are 2 of the increased risk for urethral recurrence.
Perhaps pathology came back and made the doctor feel a more aggressive tack was wise. I wouldn't second guess someone like Steinberg, he's one of the best. But yes, stuff happens, the O.R. is a busy place.
If I were you, I would want to hear exactly why this is the best course to take, what risk factors were/are present to justify the morbidity of a second surgery so soon after a major RC.
I wish you and your father all the best, that goes for all of you out here on behalf of your fathers.
Wendy