Prostate cancer treatment side effects
There are side effects from each treatment for prostate cancer. Just as prostate cancer varies from man to man the side effects experienced will vary from man to man. Fortunately, physicians work hard to ensure you will experience minimal side effects as a result of treatment. The most common side effects of treatment are urinary incontinence (the inability to control your bladder) and erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve a full erection). These potential changes can impact your self-esteem and personal relationships. Before deciding on a treatment, talk with your doctor and learn about possible side effects and how you would work together to manage these challenges.
Common side effects:
Surgery (prostatectomy)
• Erection problems
• Loss of libido
• Dry orgasm
• Urine leakage during sex
• Infertility
• Urinary problems
• Fatigue
EBRT
• Erection problems
• Loss of libido
• Dry orgasm
• Infertility
• Urinary problems
• Bowel problems
• Fatigue
• Skin irritation
Brachytherapy
• Erection problems
• Loss of libido
• Dry orgasm
• Infertility
• Urinary problems
ADT
• Erection problems
• Loss of libido
• Dry orgasm
• Infertility
• Bowel problems
• Fatigue
• Hot flushes
• Osteoporosis
• Heart problems
• Breast growth
• Mood swings
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After completing external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), urinary and bowel side effects may persist for two to six weeks, but they will improve over time. You may need to continue some medications. Some patients report continued, though lessening fatigue for several weeks after treatment. Most side effects generally go away within a few weeks to 2 months of finishing treatment. But some side effects may continue after treatment is over because it takes time for healthy cells to recover from the effects of radiation therapy. Late side effects can happen months or years after treatment.
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Late effects can happen months to years after cancer treatment has ended. The risk of late effects depends on the areas included in the field of radiation and the radiation techniques that were used. Some of the potential late effects of radiation to the prostate include:
You may not have any side effects or late effects of radiation treatment. But if you do, it is important that you speak to your provider about how to best manage these side effects. After treatment, talk with your oncology team about receiving a survivorship care plan, which can help you manage the transition to survivorship and learn about life after cancer.
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radiation therapy is as effective, or even better, than other common treatment options such as surgery or brachytherapy. Men with localised prostate cancer who are treated with external-beam radiation therapy have a cure rate of 95.5% for intermediate-risk prostate cancer and 91.3% for high-risk prostate cancer.
The 5-year survival rate using this treatment is 98.8% overall. When compared to other common treatment options such as surgery or brachytherapy, external-beam was as effective and in some cases more effective.
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prostate cancer can be cured, when detected and treated early. The vast majority of prostate cancer cases (more than 90 percent) are discovered in the early stages, making the tumors more likely to respond to treatment. Treatment doesn't always have to mean surgery or chemotherapy, either. Treatments may slow or shrink an advanced prostate cancer, but for most men, stage 4 prostate cancer isn't curable. Still, treatments can extend your life and reduce the signs and symptoms of cancer.
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