prostate cancer: patient report of urinary function after treatment

Urinary dysfunction resulting from prostate cancer treatment can vary from urinary incontinence and urgency, to passing urine too frequently, to difficulty emptying the bladder fully. These symptoms are categorized into a few main types of incontinence: stress urinary incontinence urge incontinence overflow incontinence mixed incontinence

Full Answer

Does prostate cancer treatment lead to urinary incontinence?

Patients undergoing prostatectomy were more likely to have urinary incontinence than were those undergoing radiotherapy at 2 years (odds ratio, 6.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.92 to 20.29) and 5 years (odds ratio, 5.10; 95% CI, 2.29 to 11.36).

Is prostate cancer treatment associated with age-dependent changes in urinary and sexual function?

Finally, although we evaluated the comparative harms of prostatectomy and radiotherapy, the precise contribution of prostate-cancer treatment to age-dependent changes in urinary, sexual, and bowel function remains unknown, given the absence of an untreated, age-matched control cohort.

What happens after prostate cancer diagnosis?

After prostate cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the prostate or to other parts of the body. The process used to find out if cancer has spread within the prostate or to other parts of the body is called staging.

Does radiotherapy affect urinary function after antecedent surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?

After multivariate analysis, a high dose of RT and a medical history of hypertension were associated with a poorer quality of urinary life (p = 0.04). Conclusion: External radiotherapy remains an appropriate treatment option without a major risk for deterioration in urinary function in patient with antecedent surgery for BPH.

How long does frequent urination last after prostate radiation treatment?

Radiotherapy can irritate both the bladder and the urethra, causing inflammation or swelling of the prostate. Most symptoms lessen over time with little or no intervention: Nearly 45% of men report irritative voiding symptoms after six months, and the majority resolve by one year.

How does prostate cancer affect urination?

While most prostate cancer does not cause any symptoms at all, the symptoms and signs of prostate cancer may include: Frequent urination. Weak or interrupted urine flow or the need to strain to empty the bladder. The urge to urinate frequently at night.

How long does it take for urine to clear up after prostate surgery?

However, for most men, regaining full control of their urine is a gradual process that takes several weeks or months. By six months, most men who were continent before the surgery no longer need pads, though some prefer to wear just a liner for security even if they do not leak.

What is the most common complication from prostate cancer treatment?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common complication associated with all of the treatments for prostate cancer and has been reported in 10%–90% of patients after radical prostatectomy.

How can I increase my urine flow?

Go with the FlowKeep yourself active. Lack of physical activity can make you retain urine. ... Do Kegel exercises. Stand at or sit on the toilet and contract the muscle that allows you to stop and start the flow of pee. ... Meditate. Nervousness and tension cause some men to urinate more often. ... Try double voiding.

What to do if urine is not coming?

Nine ways to induce urinationTapping the area between navel and pubic bone. ... Bending forward. ... Placing a hand in warm water. ... Running water. ... Drinking while trying to urinate. ... Trying the Valsalva maneuver. ... Exercising. ... Massaging the inner thigh.More items...•

Does prostate removal affect urination?

Removing it (radical prostatectomy), or using radiation to treat it, can sometimes cause damage to the nerves and muscles of the bladder, urethra, and or sphincter, which controls the passage of urine from the bladder. This can result in urinary incontinence.

What is life like without a prostate?

The two prominent quality-of-life issues associated with living without a prostate are the loss of urinary control and the loss of erectile function.

What is the most common problem after prostatectomy?

Stress incontinence is the most common type after prostate surgery. It's usually caused by problems with the valve that keeps urine in the bladder (the bladder sphincter). Prostate cancer treatments can damage this valve or the nerves that keep the valve working.

What are the after effects of prostate cancer?

The most common side effects of prostate cancer surgery are urinary incontinence (the inability to control your bladder) and erectile dysfunction, or ED (the inability to achieve a full erection).

What are the results of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer can spread to nearby organs, such as your bladder, or travel through your bloodstream or lymphatic system to your bones or other organs. Prostate cancer that spreads to the bones can cause pain and broken bones.

What are the side effects of prostate cancer radiation treatment?

Potential side effects of external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer may include:Frequent urination.Difficult or painful urination.Blood in the urine.Urinary leakage.Abdominal cramping.Diarrhea.Painful bowel movements.Rectal bleeding.More items...•

What muscles control the flow of urine?

Urinary function is normally controlled by several sets of muscles: the muscles in the urethra, the internal sphincter (located where the bladder and urethra join ), and the external sphincter (located below the prostate). These muscles act together with pelvic floor muscles to control the flow of urine in the bladder.

What organ stores urine after it is emptied from the kidneys?

The bladder itself is a balloon-shaped organ that stores urine after it is emptied from the kidneys. As the urethra carries urine out of the body, it starts at the bladder and runs through the prostate. Urinary function is normally controlled by several sets of muscles: the muscles in the urethra, the internal sphincter ...

Is prostate cancer hopeless?

But the situation is not hopeless. If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer or know someone who has, it’s important to take action. That starts by understanding what treatments may lead to urinary dysfunction and how the prostate and bladder are anatomically connected.

Can prostate cancer cause pressure on the bladder?

An enlarged prostate, however, can obstruct or place pressure on the urethra. And prostate cancer treatments may damage the surrounding nerves and muscles, affecting bladder function.

Can surgery cause bladder to be inflamed?

Surgery can physically change your urinary system, which presents the possibility of damaging the nerves that help control bladder function. Radiation therapy can inflame the bladder and cause unpredictable urination. Radiation could also inflame the urethra.

Is there a one size fits all treatment for prostate cancer?

The right treatment for you. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for prostate cancer. Patients should weigh their own personal goals, quality of life, and life expectancy. The good news is that treatments for prostate cancer are constantly improving.

Can prostate cancer cause urinary dysfunction?

How can prostate cancer treatment lead to urinary dysfunction? Urinary dysfunction resulting from prostate cancer treatment can vary from urinary incontinence and urgency, to passing urine too frequently, to difficulty emptying the bladder fully. These symptoms are categorized into a few main types of incontinence:

Does neoadjuvant therapy help prostate cancer?

Neo-adjuvant/adjuvant hormone deprivation in high-risk prostate cancer has been shown to improve disease-free rates and overall survival in patients treated with radiotherapy. The optimal duration and timing of adjuvant hormonal treatment is the subject of ongoing research trials.

Does adjuvant radiation help with relapse?

Early use of adjuvant radiation may improve the biochemical freedom from relapse. 22Longer-term challenges include the frequency of follow-up, the use of androgen deprivation, and most recently, the potential for adjuvant chemotherapy to improve cure rates. Discussion.

Background

The purpose of this analysis was to compare long-term urinary, bowel, and sexual function after radical prostatectomy or external-beam radiation therapy.

Methods

The Prostate Cancer Outcomes Study (PCOS) enrolled 3533 men in whom prostate cancer had been diagnosed in 1994 or 1995. The current cohort comprised 1655 men in whom localized prostate cancer had been diagnosed between the ages of 55 and 74 years and who had undergone either surgery (1164 men) or radiotherapy (491 men).

Results

Patients undergoing prostatectomy were more likely to have urinary incontinence than were those undergoing radiotherapy at 2 years (odds ratio, 6.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.92 to 20.29) and 5 years (odds ratio, 5.10; 95% CI, 2.29 to 11.36).

Conclusions

At 15 years, no significant relative differences in disease-specific functional outcomes were observed among men undergoing prostatectomy or radiotherapy. Nonetheless, men treated for localized prostate cancer commonly had declines in all functional domains during 15 years of follow-up. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute.)

Patients

From October 1, 1994, through October 31, 1995, PCOS investigators enrolled patients with incident prostate cancer from six participating Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) sites: Connecticut, Utah, New Mexico, and the metropolitan areas of Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Seattle–Puget Sound.

Data Collection

At the time of enrollment, eligible men were asked to complete a self-administered survey that included items on clinical and sociodemographic issues, coexisting medical conditions, 8,9 and disease-specific health-related quality of life.

Study Oversight

The study was designed and the data gathered by the PCOS investigators. The Vanderbilt University authors performed the data analysis. All the authors contributed to the writing and review of the manuscript, and no additional uncredited persons were involved. All the authors assume responsibility for the integrity and completeness of the data.

What is done after prostate cancer diagnosis?

After prostate cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the prostate or to other parts of the body.

Why is it important to know the stage of prostate cancer?

The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan treatment. The results of the tests used to diagnose prostate cancer are often also used to stage the disease. (See the General Information section .)

What is the purpose of a transrectal biopsy?

A biopsy is done to diagnose prostate cancer and find out the grade of the cancer (Gleason score). A transrectal biopsy is used to diagnose prostate cancer. A transrectal biopsy is the removal of tissue from the prostate by inserting a thin needle through the rectum and into the prostate.

What is the most common cancer in older men?

Anatomy of the male reproductive and urinary systems, showing the prostate, testicles, bladder, and other organs. Prostate cancer is most common in older men. In the U.S., about 1 out of 5 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

What are the signs of prostate cancer?

Signs of prostate cancer include a weak flow of urine or frequent urination. Tests that examine the prostate and blood are used to diagnose prostate cancer.

What does grade 3 mean in cancer?

For example, if the most common tissue pattern is grade 3 and the secondary pattern is grade 4, it means that most of the cancer is grade 3 and less of the cancer is grade 4. The grades are added for a Gleason score of 7, and it is a medium-grade cancer.

Why do we do clinical trials?

Clinical trials are done to find out if new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard treatment.