Side Effects Of Radiation Treatment For Prostate Cancer
Side Effects of Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer
Modern man should be putting a braver face facing prostate cancer because newer technology would mean a more efficient way in addressing the problems of prostate cancer as well as the complications it usually bring along.
But with radiation treatment, the modern man could forgo a brave face. Because for all its worth, the side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer still occupy a longer list than what you'd want to expect.
Every man considering radiation therapy should be aware of all the side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer. Most of these are life changing and while it may save your life from deadly cancer, it may irrevocably change the way you use to enjoy it. Here are all the side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer and its causes.
Incontinence
One of the most damaging side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer is incontinence. If the urinary sphincter is damaged during the radiation treatment process, the patient will experience varying degrees of urinary incontinence, an unwilled action of urinating. This can be very life changing but there are those instances where a corrective surgery can be applied.
Serious incontinence cases though are rare, affecting 1% - 3% of the men undergoing radiation treatment. Though the symptoms will usually go away the longest in a year, it is permanent in less than 1% of the radiation treated men.
Impotence
Another of grave side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer, impotence is the difficulty in having an erection, even if the sexual drive is still present. Another problem would be the maintaining of an erection. Impotence doesn't mean however that there would also be an absence of ejaculation, as an impotent patient can still ejaculate but without erection. For many married men, this is one of the biggest patient trade-off in having prostate cancer treatment.
Radiation treatment though, has a lower percentage of occurring than with radical prostatectomy, but the risk for a permanent damage is higher than with radical prostatectomy due to irreversible damage of the tissues.
Infertility
As a direct result of a prostate problem, infertility is a usual problem. This is true to all prostate problems and the treatment of these problems. You can, however, save some sperm cells before engaging yourself to treatment.
Though there are other side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer, those mentioned above are the most common and poses the biggest problem for the quality of life they give post operation. It is important that the patient should be well aware of the risk this radiation treatment (as well as other prostate cancer treatment) carries.
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