Urinary Problems After Prostate Cancer Therapy

Irregardless of the type of treatment you choose, urinary problems after prostate cancer therapy are likely to occur. Because the urethra passes right through the prostate, no treatment method leaves urinary function unaffected. As may be expected, the younger you are when the malignancy is detected, the sooner and more easily you will recover from these side effects.

In order for surgical removal of the prostate to be maximally effective, part of the bladder, and one sphincter is also excised. After surgery, it may take some time for you to be sufficiently able to control the remaining sphincter. Today, there are specially designed pads and undergarments for men that experience urinary problems after prostate cancer therapy.

Fortunately, most men are able to achieve full control within 2 to 3 months. In many cases, going to the bathroom more frequently can help eliminate the chances of stress incontinence. The speed and quality of control recovered will also depend a great deal on the skill and experience of the surgeon. Therefore, asking questions about this may help reduce the potential for problems after prostate cancer surgery.

When a surgeon removes the prostate, he/she must also cut through the urethra, and then reconnect it to the bladder. If scar tissue develops in this area, it can prevent urine from flowing properly. Usually, your doctor will be able to solve this problem by stretching the constricted area. As with incontinence, selecting an experienced doctor with a low incidence of patients developing strictures is crucial to preventing problems after prostate cancer surgery.

Similar to rectal tissue, the cells that make up your bladder and urethra are far more vulnerable to radiation than the ones in your prostate. As a result, urinary problems after prostate cancer radiation occur fairly often. The most common side effects include pain, bleeding, and urgency. If the pain is not tolerable, your doctor may prescribe medication to resolve this, as well as prevent the feeling of urgency. Typically, urinary problems after prostate cancer radiation will resolve on their own within three months of treatment.

Brachytherapy is a form of therapy where radioactive seeds are placed all through the prostate. These implants can cause the prostate to swell up, and thus obstruct urine flow. Because doctors are very concerned about obstruction problems after prostate cancer brachytherapy, you will have to undergo several evaluations to see if you are a good candidate for this kind of treatment. That said, if you qualify for brachytherapy, the chances of developing urgency and painful urination will be a good bit less.

Because the urethra must pass through the prostate, urinary problems after prostate cancer therapy tend to be common. That said, by carefully evaluating the experience level and track record of your doctor, you can go a long way to minimizing your risks. Although problems after prostate cancer therapy may seem daunting, opting not to go for treatment will ultimately leave you with the same set of problems, plus the malignancy itself.