Side Effects of Prostate Treatment

Improvements in treatment over the years have significantly reduced the  severity of prostate cancer treatment side effects. It is still important to  understand how and why these side effects occur, and to how to minimize how they  will affect daily life.

There are six major categories of prostate cancer treatment side effects : urinary dysfunction, bowel  dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, loss of fertility, effects due to the loss of  testosterone, and side effects of chemotherapy. Depending on the treatment  strategy pursued some or all of these side effects might be present. It’s also  important to realize that not all these symptoms are normal, and that some require immediate care.

Urinary Dysfunction encompasses both urinary incontinence, which can range  from some leaking to complete loss of bladder control, and irritative voiding  symptoms, including increased urinary frequency, increased urinary urgency, and  pain upon urination. For men undergoing prostatectomy, incontinence is the main  urinary side effect. Bowel Dysfunction includes diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and  the inability to control bowel movements. All of these side effects are more  common following external beam radiotherapy. During prostatectomy, damage to the  rectum is unusually rare, and the bowel changes noticed in the first few weeks  following surgery are likely the result of the body adjusting to the increased abdominal space due to the loss of the prostate. Radiation therapy can cause  significant damage to the rectum, resulting in some or all of the symptoms  listed above.

Erectile Dysfunction is experienced by nearly all men for the first few  months after treatment. The reason for this is simple: the nerves and blood  vessels that control the physical aspect of an erection are incredibly delicate,  and any trauma to the area will unfortunately result in changes to the natural  order. Fertility is always a problem after prostate cancer treatment. It is  nearly impossible for a man to retain his ability to father children through  sexual intercourse after the initial treatment. The loss of semen following  surgery makes ejaculation impossible, so the sperm cannot physically leave the  body to reach the woman’s egg for fertilization.

Hormone Therapy side effects: Testosterone is the primary male hormone. Side effects of testosterone loss is lengthy and includes hot flashes, decreased  sexual desire, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis, weight gain,  decreased muscle mass, anemia, and memory loss. Chemotherapy drugs available  today work in a slightly different fashion, and it’s hard to predict what sorts  of side effects any one person will experience. Check with your doctor for reported prostate cancer treatment side effects.

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