Prostate Cancer Side Effects After Surgery

Surgery is one options available for the treatment of prostate cancer. However, decision should be made only after discussing the risks and benefits of the procedure with your doctor as there are prostate cancer side effects after the surgery. Issues that need to be taken into account consists the nature of the cancer, age and general health.

The short term side effects with any type of radical prostatectomy are much like those with any major surgery, including side effects risks from anesthesia. Among the most serious, there is a small risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots in the legs that may travel to your lungs, and infection at the incision site. If the lymph nodes are removed, a collection of lymph fluid (called a lymphocele) can be formed and may need to be drained.Because there are many blood vessels near the prostate gland, another risk is bleeding during and after the surgery. Blood transfusions may be required, which carry their own small risk.

There are also long term prostate cancer side effects after the surgery because the process of removing the prostate and ensuring all cancer cells are cleared can cause damages to the erectile nerves which rest adjacent to the prostate gland. Incontinence, loss of bladder control, can also be a long term side effects because when the prostate is removed, the internal sphincter (proximal) is also removed. This means the patient relies only upon the external (distal) sphincter to control the flow of urine after surgery. The other side effects can be impotance, which is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection, because the prostate lies next to the nerves and blood vessels that are important for erections, and these nerves and vessels can be damaged during the operation.

Incontinence side effects may inlcudes:
1. Stress incontinence - urine leak when cough, laugh, sneeze, or exercise, which is usually caused by problems with the muscular valve that keeps urine in the bladder (the bladder sphincter).

2. Overflow incontinence - bladdeer is not empty well. Requires a longer time to urinate and have a dribbling stream with little force. Overflow incontinence is usually caused by blockage or narrowing of the bladder outlet by scar tissue.

3. Urge incontinence - a sudden need to urinate. This problem occurs when the bladder becomes too sensitive to stretching as it fills with urine.

Each man's situation is different, so the best way to get an idea of prostate cancer side effects after surgery is to ask your doctor about his or her success rates and what the outcome is likely to be in your particular case.

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