Treatment FAQ

how to fight side effects from prostate cancer treatment

by Adaline Nitzsche V Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Men who choose androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for their advanced prostate cancer can avoid possible side effects with short-term exercise, suggests a study published in January 2020 in BJU International. Common side effects of ADT include weight gain, loss of muscle mass, lower cardio fitness, fatigue, and a drop in quality of life.

Full Answer

What are the side effects of prostate treatment?

Many men feel exceptionally tired and forgetful during prostate cancer treatment. It’s important to give yourself plenty of time to rest, but it can also be helpful to stay as active as possible. A counselor or social worker can provide you with tips for dealing with mental exhaustion and depression, which can compound the effects of physical fatigue if left unaddressed.

What is stage IV prostate cancer life expectancy?

Nov 07, 2018 · An injectable hydrogel — SpaceOAR ®, which is injected prior to radiation therapy and pushes the rectum away from the prostate — can reduce these side effects.

What are different prostatectomy side effects?

But diet and moderate exercise proved to be valuable tools in fending off those side effects in the new research from The Ohio State University. The study appears in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Brian Focht.

What are the effects of prostate cancer?

Surgery Side Effects. Because the prostate is close to several vital structures, prostate cancer surgery can disrupt normal urinary, bowel, and sexual functioning. Urinary Incontinence During a prostatectomy, the bladder is pulled downward and connected to the urethra at the point where the prostate once sat.

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Why is early management of side effects important?

Early management of side effects has been shown to help patients live longer, better lives. It is very important that you communicate with your doctors about the side effects that you are experiencing as you undergo treatment.

How long does it take for vardenafil to work?

On average, the drugs take about an hour to begin working; the erection-boosting effects of sildenafil and vardenafil last for about 8 hours;

Can nitrates cause low blood pressure?

However, these drugs are not for everyone. Many men with angina or other heart problems take medications that contain nitrates to help the blood flow better to the heart. All three agents used for erectile dysfunction can affect the way that the nitrates work—and cause blood pressure to drop to dangerously low levels.

Why do men take nitrates?

Many men with angina or other heart problems take medications that contain nitrates to help the blood flow better to the heart. All three agents used for erectile dysfunction can affect the way that the nitrates work—and cause blood pressure to drop to dangerously low levels.

How does a vacuum pump work?

The vacuum constriction device, or vacuum pump, creates an erection mechanically, by forcing blood into the penis using a vacuum seal.

What is a sling made of?

In one-type of procedure, a sling made from silicone or, more rarely, human tissue is slipped under the urethra and anchored to the muscle or bone, relieving the urethra from pressure buildup in the abdomen as urine accumulates in the bladder.

How long does it take for a man to recover from a prostatectomy?

Nearly all men undergoing radical prostatectomy experience ED immediately afterward, but most start to regain sexual function within six months, Dr. Stephenson says. Men treated with radiation typically develop no immediate ED, but problems tend to manifest months to years later.

Can radiation cause urinary incontinence?

Both radical prostatectomy and radiation treatments can damage the delicate structures surrounding the prostate that control urination and erections, leading to urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction (ED). Radiation also can cause irritative urinary symptoms and, in some cases, rectal side effects.

Is androgen deprivation good for prostate cancer?

Androgen deprivation therapy is a powerful tool against prostate cancer, and more and more men are opting for the treatment as a growing array of hormone-based therapies become available. But it comes with a cost.

Can men on hormone therapy have cheeseburgers?

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Men on hormone therapy for prostate cancer may benefit significantly from hitting the gym with fellow patients and choosing more veggies and fewer cheeseburgers, a new study suggests.

How much weight did the intervention group lose?

Men in the intervention group, on average, lost about 4.4 pounds, 4 pounds of which was fat.

Can prostate cancer affect urinary function?

Because the prostate is close to several vital structures, prostate cancer and its treatments can disrupt normal urinary, bowel, and sexual functioning. This section discusses side effects that might be experienced as well as advice on managing those side effects. . What are the side effects of surgery for prostate cancer?

Does radiation affect prostate?

Radiation Side Effects. Because the prostate is close to several vital structures, radiation therapy can disrupt normal urinary, bowel, and sexual functioning. Short-term Complications You may experience some temporary urinary symptoms, such as waking up in the night and needing to urinate, needing to urinate more often during the... Learn More.

Can prostate cancer surgery cause urinary incontinence?

Surgery Side Effects. Because the prostate is close to several vital structures, prostat e cancer surgery can disrupt normal urinary, bowel, and sexual functioning. Urinary Incontinence During a prostatectomy, the bladder is pulled downward and connected to the urethra at the point where the prostate once sat.

Why is early management of side effects important?

Early management of side effects has been shown to help patients live longer, better lives. It is very important that you communicate with your doctors about the side effects that you are experiencing as you undergo treatment. Ongoing and proactive communication will enable your doctor to...

Does testosterone help with hair growth?

Testosterone is the primary male hormone, and plays an important role in establishing and maintaining typical male characteristics, such as body hair growth, muscle mass, sexual desire, and erectile function, and contributes to a host of other normal physiologic processes in the body.

What is the role of testosterone in male development?

Testosterone is the primary male hormone, and plays an important role in establishing and maintaining typical male characteristics, such as body hair growth, muscle mass, sexual desire, and erectile function, and contributes to a host of other normal physiologic processes in the body. The primary systemic...

Why is it important to communicate with your doctor?

It is very important that you communicate with your doctors about the side effects that you are experiencing as you undergo treatment. Ongoing and proactive communication will enable your doctor to... Learn More.

In the journals

Men who choose androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for their advanced prostate cancer can avoid possible side effects with short-term exercise, suggests a study published in January 2020 in BJU International.

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Is androgen deprivation a good treatment for prostate cancer?

advertisement. Androgen deprivation therapy is a powerful tool against prostate cancer, and more and more men are opting for the treatment as a growing array of hormone-based therapies become available. But it comes with a cost.

How much weight did the intervention group lose?

Men in the intervention group, on average, lost about 4.4 pounds, 4 pounds of which was fat.

What are the treatments for prostate cancer?

Other therapies used in the treatment of prostate cancer that are still under investigation include—. Cryotherapy. Placing a special probe inside or near the prostate cancer to freeze and kill the cancer cells. Chemotherapy. Using special drugs to shrink or kill the cancer.

What is the procedure to remove prostate cancer?

Surgery. A prostatectomy is an operation where doctors remove the prostate. Radical prostatectomy removes the prostate as well as the surrounding tissue. Radiation therapy. Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer. There are two types of radiation therapy—. External radiation therapy.

What is the best way to kill cancer?

Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer. There are two types of radiation therapy—. External radiation therapy. A machine outside the body directs radiation at the cancer cells.

How does ultrasound help with cancer?

High-intensity focused ultrasound. This therapy directs high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) at the cancer to kill cancer cells.

What is complementary medicine?

Complementary and alternative medicine are medicines and health practices that are not standard cancer treatments. Complementary medicine is used in addition to standard treatments, and alternative medicine is used instead of standard treatments. Meditation, yoga, and supplements like vitamins and herbs are some examples.

How to get rid of prostate cancer?

Choose products with magnesium and phosphorus -- they help your bones absorb what they need. Do 45 minutes of daily exercise, including cardio, strength, and flexibility. This can boost your energy and mood. Soothe Your Spirit. Prostate cancer treatment and its side effects can make you feel helpless or depressed, Kumar says.

Can prostate cancer be treated early?

All prostate cancer treatments have possible side effects, says Sean Cavanaugh, MD, chief of radiation oncology at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Atlanta. Even if your cancer is so early you choose to “just watch and wait, you have the psychological side effects of waiting to see what happens with your cancer,” he says.

What are the side effects of radiation?

More aggressive treatments, like surgery, beam radiation, brachytherapy or radioactive “seeds,” or hormone therapy, could cause short-term side effects like: Sexual problems, like impotence, trouble keeping an erection or getting to orgasm, or loss of desire for sex. Leaking urine or stool. Frequent or burning urination.

How to get rid of bone marrow disease?

You may need to change your diet to get regular, she says. Eat high-fiber foods like fresh vegetables or whole grains, or drink a spoonful of fiber powder in orange juice at night. Probiotic foods like yogurt or kefir, and prebiotic foods like nuts or beans, can help , too. Protect Your Bones.

What to eat to strengthen bones?

Eat high-fiber foods like fresh vegetables or whole grains, or drink a spoonful of fiber powder in orange juice at night. Probiotic foods like yogurt or kefir, and prebiotic foods like nuts or beans, can help, too. Hormone therapy can weaken your bones, Kumar says.

How to reduce the risk of prostate cancer?

If you want to reduce your risk of prostate cancer, consider trying to: Choose a low-fat diet. Foods that contain fats include meats, nuts, oils and dairy products, such as milk and cheese. In some studies, men who ate the highest amount of fat each day had an increased risk of prostate cancer.

Is there a way to prevent prostate cancer?

There's no sure way to prevent prostate cancer. Study results often conflict with each other, and most studies aren't designed to definitively prove whether something prevents prostate cancer. As a result, no clear ways to prevent prostate cancer have emerged. In general, doctors recommend that men with an average risk of prostate cancer make ...

Does eating fruits and vegetables lower the risk of prostate cancer?

There is some evidence that choosing a healthy diet that's low in fat and full of fruits and vegetables may contribute to a lower risk of prostate cancer, though research results have been mixed and this hasn't been proved concretely.

Does eating too much fat cause prostate cancer?

In some studies, men who ate the highest amount of fat each day had an increased risk of prostate cancer. This doesn't prove that excess fat causes prostate cancer. Other studies haven't found this association.

Can you get prostate cancer if you are obese?

Men who are obese — a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher — may have an increased risk of prostate cancer. If you are overweight or obese, work on losing weight. You can do this by reducing the number of calories you eat each day and increasing the amount of exercise you do.

Does exercise help with prostate cancer?

Exercise has many other health benefits and may reduce your risk of heart disease and other cancers. Exercise can help you maintain your weight, or it can help you lose weight. If you don't already exercise, make an ...

How to reduce fat in your diet?

To reduce the amount of fat you eat each day, limit fatty foods or choose low-fat varieties. For instance, reduce the amount of fat you add to foods when cooking, select leaner cuts of meat, and choose low-fat or reduced-fat dairy products. Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat each day. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and ...

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Management of Urinary Dysfunction

Management of Erectile Dysfunction

  • When a man is sexually aroused, the erectile nerves running alongside the penis stimulate the muscles to relax, allowing blood to rush in. At the same time, tiny valves at the base of the penis lock shut, preventing the blood from flowing back out. The backup of blood results in an erection.
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Medications

  • The oral medications for erectile dysfunction, sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra), relax the muscles in the penis, allowing blood to rapidly flow in. On average, the drugs take about an hour to begin working; the erection-boosting effects of sildenafil and vardenafil last for about 8 hours; tadalafil lasts about 36 hours. About 75% of men who undergo nerve-sparing …
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Mechanical Devices

  • For those unwilling or unable to use medication to help improve erectile function, there are still a number of choices. The vacuum constriction device, or vacuum pump, creates an erection mechanically, by forcing blood into the penis using a vacuum seal. Because the blood starts to flow back out once the vacuum seal is broken, a rubber ring is rolled onto the base of the penis, …
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Surgical Options

  • The final option for treating erectile dysfunction is the surgically inserted penile implant, which mimics the natural function of the penis. With the three-piece implant, a narrow flexible plastic tube is inserted along the length of the penis, a small balloon-like structure filled with fluid is attached to the abdominal wall, and a release button...
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