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