Six Possible Side Effects of Prostate Cancer Surgery

There are several possible side effects related to prostate cancer surgery.  The good news is that doctors have made significant improvements in prostate cancer treatment over the years, which have significantly reduced the  severity of these side effects.  It is still important to understand how and why these side effects occur, and to how to minimize how they will affect your daily life.

There are six major categories of side effects that are  normally associated with prostate cancer treatments:

• urinary dysfunction
• bowel  dysfunction
• erectile dysfunction
• male fertility problems
• effects due to the loss of  testosterone
• side effects of chemotherapy

It is important to discuss the possible side effects of the treatment options before you move forward, so you know what the side effects are, are they permanent or temporary, and when will normal sexual function be restored.  It’s also  important to realize that not all these symptoms are normal, and that some  require immediate care.

Urinary Dysfunction includes urinary incontinence and irritative voiding  symptoms.  Effects can range  from some leaking to complete loss of bladder control, and , including increased urinary frequency, increased urinary urgency, and  pain upon urination.  For men undergoing prostatectomy,  incontinence is the main  urinary side effect.  New treatments, such as robot prostatectomy, have reduced this side effect to the more invasive radical prostatectomy.

Bowel Dysfunction includes diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and  the inability to control bowel movements.  This side effect is more  common following external beam radiotherapy.  During prostatectomy, damage to the  rectum is 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 bowel dysfunction side effects.

Erectile Dysfunction is experienced by nearly all men for the first 3-6 months following prostate cancer surgery. The reason for this is the nerves and blood  vessels that control an erection are incredibly delicate,  and any trauma to the area can result in changes to the natural  function.  If the two nerves, which run along the sides of the prostate gland, that control a man's erection are not damaged or cut, erections and full sexual function will be restored in as little as one month, but can take up to 12 months for full functionality to be fully restored.  If the nerves are cut, then the ability to achieve an erection may be permanently impaired.

Male Infertility is always a problem after prostate cancer treatment.  It is  nearly impossible for a man to retain his ability to conceive children through  sexual intercourse after the initial treatment.  The loss of semen or prostatic fluid following  surgery makes ejaculation impossible, so the sperm cannot physically leave the  body to reach the woman’s egg for fertilization.  If the prostate gland is left intact and the nerves untouched, full sexual function an ability to achieve an erection are usually restored with 3 - 12 months of the surgery.  Even if the prostate gland is removed, men can usually still conceive a child through artificial insemination or IVF, In Vitro Fertilization,  as men who have had prostate surgery can still produce sperm.

Testosterone is the primary male hormone.  Side  effects of testosterone loss, also known as low T, is lengthy and can include hot flashes, decreased  sexual desire, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis, weight gain,  decreased muscle mass, anemia, depression, insomnia and memory loss.  Male hormone replacement therapy, such as testosterone pills or creams have been known to cure many of these issues.  Testosterone replacement therapy should only be administered under the direction of a doctor.

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 side effects for your treatment.  Your doctor may recommend freezing sperm for future insemination since chemotherapy may damage the sperm.

For more information visit: http://www.menshealthcures.com/Prostacet

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To Your Health!!
Ken Weiss

Sex Life after Prostate Removal Surgery

Men with prostate cancer who are faced with prostate removal surgery have many questions. The first question obviously is will I survive. After that most important question has been answered by the doctor or oncologist, one of the most asked questions is can a man have sex after prostate removal surgery.

The answer to that question is determined by the prostate cancer treatment options available to the patient. Is the cancer contained within the prostate gland or has it begun to bulge out of the prostate gland or metastasized? There are two nerves that run along both sides of the prostate and these nerves are responsible for a male's ability to get and maintain an erection. The nerves are very close to the prostate, and thus requires a skilled surgeon to remove the prostate without damaging or cutting the nerves. One of the nerves can actually be damaged or cut with minimal effect on the ability to get an erection, but if both nerves are damaged or cut, then the ability to get and maintain an erection will be severely impaired.

A radical prostatectomy is the most invasive treatment, which includes removal of the prostate gland and some surrounding tissue. This treatment may involve removal of one or both of the nerves that allow for a man to achieve an erection. Depending on the skill of the surgeon and state of the prostate cancer, a man may be able to regain full or partial sexual function. Discussion with your doctor on this procedure and the after effects should take place.

A more advanced operation, known as a robot prostatectomy involves the use of a robotic tool that more precisely removes the cancer, leaving the surrounding tissue and nerves intact, which will allow the patient to regain full or partial sexual function after the removal of the prostate gland.

A male who has had his prostate gland removed should not engage in sexual activity for 4 weeks after the the surgery. Full sexual function and the ability to get and maintain an erection can take up to 9-12 months to return, so the male may need to be patient while your body heals.

Men who have had their prostate removed are still able to conceive a child. If the prostate cancer treatment involves radiation or chemotherapy, it is recommended that the man have his sperm frozen for future use. To conceive after prostate surgery, the sperm can be harvested from the man and either implanted in the woman's uterus, or both an egg and sperm can be harvested and conception achieved through Invitro Fertilization (IVF).

So, while the prospect of having a prostatectomy can be traumatic, armed with the right information, a man faced with having his prostate removed can not only have a full and healthy sex life, can also conceive a child.

For more information on prostate health, please visit www.menshealthcures.com