Prostate cancer treatment can be life-saving for many men. But the road to recovery can also come with some challenges, including unwanted side effects.
We asked a urologist how you can manage side effects and avoid urinary incontinence after prostate removal.
Prostate removal can cause side effects like urinary incontinence.
Prostate cancer treatment looks different based on what stage your cancer in. Common treatments include prostate removal surgery, radiation therapy, or a combination of both.
But these treatments can cause unwanted side effects.
“The prostate gland plays a crucial role in the urinary sphincter, which controls the flow of urine from the bladder to the urethra,” explains Richard Kershen, MD, a urologist with the Tallwood Urology & Kidney Institute.
When the prostate is removed, this mechanism can be disrupted, leading to urinary incontinence. Nerve damage during surgery can also result in erectile dysfunction.
“Some men might only experience a small leak of urine when they exert themselves, while others might face more severe issues, such as continuous leakage that requires the use of diapers,” notes Dr. Kershen.
> Related: What Every Man Should Know About Prostate Cancer
But these side effects are treatable.
Prostate removal side effects can seem overwhelming, but they’re also treatable.
“Don’t let this make you homebound, isolated and depressed,” says Dr. Kershen.
Among the available treatments, physical therapy can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and improve bladder control.
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Surgery is also an option for urinary incontinence.
If physical therapy isn’t enough, there are also surgical options including:
- Male Sling: A minimally invasive procedure where a strip of soft mesh designed to stop leakage by supporting the sphincter muscle is placed inside the body.
- Artificial Urinary Sphincter: A device implanted to help control the flow of urine by mimicking the natural sphincter mechanism.
These procedures are typically performed on an outpatient basis and have a 90 to 95 percent success rate in managing urinary incontinence.
