After treatment for prostate cancer

Some side effects of treatment for prostate cancer can be long-lasting or permanent. Long-term side effects include problems with bladder control (incontinence), sexual function (impotence) and the ability to father children (fertility).

Incontinence

Incontinence means you are no longer able to fully control the flow of urine. It can be caused by damage to the bladder, the bladder muscle or to the nerves that help your bladder work properly. Urine may leak out suddenly after a cough, sneeze, hearty laugh or other physical activity. Sometimes, urine may leak out when your bladder is too full or when the urge to urinate is too strong.

You are more likely to notice incontinence right after treatment, especially after surgery. As your body recovers, you will notice improvement and your bladder control may return to normal. Some men never have complete control again.

There are many ways to help manage incontinence. Ask your doctor about Kegel exercises to train your pelvic muscles if you have small leaks many times a day. Medications can also help the muscle that controls the bladder.

Impotence

Impotence is the inability to have or keep an erection. If the testicles have been removed, impotence is permanent. In some men, surgery or radiation therapy can cause long-lasting damage that will result in erectile problems.

It is not unusual for your doctor to wait several months after cancer treatment – to give you time to recover – before ordering tests to find the exact cause of the impotence. The test results will help decide how to treat the impotence. If you and your partner need emotional support, your doctor can also refer you to specialists and counsellors.

Infertility

Infertility is the inability to father a child. Most treatments for prostate cancer cause infertility. Before you undergo any treatment, talk to your doctor about sperm banking (freezing sperm for use in the future). Sperm banking allows you and your partner to decide later whether or not you want to have children. Your healthcare team can help you plan ahead.

After treatment

Follow-up care helps you and your healthcare team monitor your progress and your recovery from treatment, including late or long-term side effects. At first, your follow-up care may be managed by one of the specialists from your healthcare team. Later on it may be managed by your family doctor.

The schedule of follow-up visits is different for each person. You might see your doctor more often in the first year after treatment, and less often after that.

The end of cancer treatment may bring mixed emotions. You may be glad the treatments are over and look forward to returning to your normal activities. But you could feel anxious as well. If you are worried about your treatment ending, talk to your healthcare team. They are there to help you through this transition period.

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Last modified on: 24 March 2010