Life After Prostate Cancer- What to Expect

The prostate gland is a small walnut-shaped structure in men that functions to produce the sticky, whitish seminal fluid that nourishes the sperms. Prostate cancer arises due to the development of tumor within the gland. Its prevalence increases up to 1 in every 52 men with ages 50 to 59 years.¹

Although this can become a serious condition, yet many cases of prostate cancer have been successfully treated and the affected men are living their life happily.

If you’re a survivor of prostate treatment, this article will guide you about life after the treatment of prostate cancer.

What to Expect after the treatment?

The most commonly done treatment for prostate cancer is the surgical removal of a tumor or killing cancerous cells by radiations.²Although the treatment is quite effective, yet it is an invasive process which damages the nerves and blood vessels surrounding the prostate gland.

Post-treatment erectile dysfunction is usually seen in many men. Moreover, you might expect urinary problems such as urinary leakage or incompetency to hold urine. In many cases, the orgasm can also be dry due to decreased functionality of prostate gland.³

Should I worry about the post-treatment complications?

It’s quite natural to be concerned about the issues faced after the treatment. Well, you don’t need to worry that much as the complications mostly do not occur in most of the men. If you do get any complications, there are several ways to reduce the severity or even eliminate them.

How can I completely recover after my prostate cancer treatment?

• Frequent visits to the clinic:The best thing to do after prostate cancer treatment is to discuss a care plan with your doctor. Frequently visit the clinic in the first month after the treatment. This will allow your doctor to track any changes or identify any issues before they become severe.
• Kegel exercises:You would be quite weak to perform sexual intercourse after the treatment. Kegel exercises can help you make your pelvic muscles stronger to alleviate problems of urine leakage and sexual intercourse. These are performed by tightening the pelvic muscles for 3 to 5 seconds and then relaxing them. The procedure is repeated almost 10 times.⁴

Take-Away Message

You don’t need to fret if you’ve been recently discharged after prostate cancer treatment. If you’ve been strong enough to undergo invasive treatments, you surely can live a happy life afterward. Keep your follow-up appointments and be healthy!

References

1. Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6497009/.
2. Chen, F. Z. & Zhao, X. K. Prostate cancer: Current treatment and prevention strategies.Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journalvol. 15 279–284 (2013).
3. Simoneau, A. R. Treatment- and disease-related complications of prostate cancer. Rev. Urol.8 Suppl 2, S56-67 (2006).
4. Kegel exercises - self-care: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000141.htm.