| In helping patients choose the best prostate cancer | | | | this is not as common with brachytherapy compared |
| treatment, several factors are taken by doctors into | | | | with other treatment methods. |
| consideration. These factors include the patient's age, | | | | The side effects associated with cryosurgery or |
| his health condition, the stage and grade of the | | | | cryoablation are often worse if the procedure is done |
| cancer, other diseases that the patient might have | | | | on a patient who has already undergone radiation |
| and possible side effects. | | | | therapy. Men who have had radiation therapy and |
| It is a sad reality that even the best prostate cancer | | | | cryosurgery can sometimes have blood in their urine |
| treatment can have side effects. For each | | | | and experience soreness in the areas where the |
| therapeutic option, there usually exists a | | | | needles were placed. Swelling of the scrotum and the |
| corresponding side effect. It is important for every | | | | penis is also possible, and so are impotence and |
| patient and doctor to know the possible ramifications | | | | urinary incontinence. In some cases, a fistula or |
| of treatment procedures, be it surgical, | | | | abnormal opening or connection between the rectum |
| radiation-based, chemotherapy, hormonal or | | | | and the bladder may occur. This could result to urine |
| cryosurgery. | | | | leaking into the rectum and may require surgery to |
| Surgical procedures for treating prostate cancer | | | | repair. |
| include radical retropubic prostatectomy, radical | | | | The debate on whether hormone therapy should be |
| perineal prostatectomy, laparoscopic radical | | | | started early or used only at the advanced stage has |
| prostatectomy and transurethral resection. The risks | | | | yet to be resolved. The primary problem with the |
| associated with radical prostatectomy include | | | | use of hormones is that over time, majority of |
| anesthetic risks, heart attack, stroke, blood clots in | | | | patients become resistant to this treatment. Aside |
| the legs and lungs and infection at the incision site. | | | | from this, hormone therapy can also cause |
| Major side effects of surgical procedures can also | | | | impotence, hot flashes and loss of sex drive. |
| include urinary incontinence, impotence, sterility and | | | | Chemotherapy, just like hormone therapy, is unlikely |
| lymphadema. Lymphadema is a rare complication | | | | to result in a cure but is primarily used to slow the |
| characterized by swelling and pain particularly in the | | | | growth of the cancer. The main problem with |
| legs and the genital area. This is caused by fluid | | | | chemotherapy is that it could also damage normal |
| collection due to the removal of lymph nodes. | | | | cells. Some of the temporary side effects associated |
| When it comes to external beam radiation therapy | | | | with this procedure include nausea and vomiting, loss |
| (EBRT), the most notable side effects reported by | | | | of appetite, hair loss, mouth sores, increased risk of |
| researchers are bowel problems, bladder problems, | | | | infection, bleeding or bruising and blood clots. |
| incontinence, impotence, and in some cases, fatigue. | | | | Side effects can exist even in the best prostate |
| Lymphadema is also possible after EBRT. | | | | cancer treatment. The best thing for a patient to do |
| Brachytherapy, or internal radiation therapy, carries | | | | is to discuss these possible risks with his doctor |
| some of the side effects also associated with EBRT; | | | | before deciding on the type of treatment or |
| with bowel problems and frequent urination as the | | | | maintenance method. |
| most common. Impotence can also occur although | | | | |