There are various treatments in prostate cancer. All these especially the radiotherapy is aiming to destroy only the malignant tumor or the most cancers cells. Most of the time though not only the cancer cells are destroyed but the healthy cells and tissue.
Side effects will be experienced by the patient. A side effect is the undesirable motion of the treatment or the effect of the drug given on the patient. Its duration would depend on the type of treatment that was given and varies from one individual to the next. Some of the side effects are due to the treatment used to stop the spread of cancer. The others are because of the disease itself. The 2 known major side effects endured by a prostate cancer patient in their therapy are erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
Failing to hold urine inside the bladder voluntarily or inability to control the flow of the urine which is called urinary incontinence. Some patients regain control after a few days of surgery and radiation treatment. There are exercises that really help a patient regain this kind of negative effects. They call it Kegel exercise. There are medications that may help relieve also incontinence. Talk to your doctor about this.
Erectile dysfunction is the failure to achieve or even maintain an erection which is necessary during sexual intercourse. Ninety percent will experience impotence especially if they gone through orchiectomy or the removal of testicles. Hormonal therapy also causes impotence because one of the aims of this treatment methods are to reduce the male hormone testosterone level.
Other side effects of the various treatment of prostate cancer include infertility, pain and weakening of the bone fragments. There are cases the cancer propagates to the bones already. This condition would result to a lot of excruciating pain and will weaken the actual bone which later lead to fracture if not treated. You have to talk to your doctor about these before the start of your strategy to you to come up with the possible therapy with fewer side effects or even tolerable side effects.
Men undergoing treatment may have one or more of these negative effects but take note not all men will have the same effect; other people may not have at all. Let your doctor know the side effects you are struggling. They are there with you and with the health care team will help you to become more comfortable as possible. There are support services you can turn to if you think like talking about your pain. Support groups and counseling assists a lot in managing the negative effects you are suffering. Gather more information through visiting http://www.ProstateCancerSideEffects.com.