No Matter the Treatment Used, Urinary Dysfunction Is Common with Prostate Cancer

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Urinary dysfunction occurs in many men who undergo any of the forms of treatment available for prostate cancer. Some men only suffer mild irritation that may last a very short period of time, while others suffer with urinary incontinence that may last for years following certain procedures. Some forms of treatments side effects can be less severe and will usually resolve themselves with little treatment.

The side effects of radiation therapy and cryotherapy can include incontinence, but are more likely to be limited to some pain during urination, increased urge to urinate, and increased frequency of urination. Most cases of incontinence associated with theses forms of treatment can be controlled with medication, and will generally go away within six months to a year after the initial procedure.

The urinary incontinence often associated with a radical prostatectomy, the surgical treatment for prostate cancer, is often much more severe than that of the above mentioned forms of treatment. Nearly a quarter of all men who undergo a radical prostatectomy report heavy leakage or little to no control over urinary flow. Some men need to wear protective garments for a period of up to two years or more following the removal of the prostate.

There are a few popular prescription drugs available to aid with some of the lesser side effects of radiation and localized tumor treatment. Flomax will improve the urinary flow, and when taken for several weeks will help control the side effects until the urinary system is properly functioning on its own again, the patient is gradually weaned from the drugs as the symptoms lessen.

More aggressive ways of treatment may be necessary to alleviate the urinary incontinence associated with the surgical treatment of prostate cancer. Collagen injections into the urethra and surgical procedures involving a sling made of silicone inserted under the urethra can drastically reduce the severity of the urinary incontinence or in some cases stop it all together for a period of time, but neither one is very long term. The effects of the collagen last only a matter of a few months, and the effects of the surgically implanted sling begin diminishing after a year or two, with very few patients reporting no symptoms after a four year period.