Side Effects From Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer, known as androgen deprivation therapy , suppresses production of testosterone. ADT can cause several side effects. These include fatigue, hot flashes, decreased bone density, ED, depressed mood, decreased sex drive, weight gain, heart risks, breast growth and cognitive decline.
The severity and length of side effects depend on how long treatment lasts. “If a man has only six months of treatment, their level of testosterone rises again, and they’ll go back to feeling like themselves,” Calvaresi said.
Often, mood changes in men on ADT are caused by other side effects such as weight gain and hot flashes. “If we can manage those other side effects, then often that improves mood,” she said. Following a healthy diet and exercising regularly often helps to decrease fatigue, prevent weight gain and improve overall mood. Before beginning hormone therapy, you should discuss the effects of ADT with your doctor, and talk about how you can change your exercise and eating habits to help head off side effects before they occur.
Prostate Cancer Surgery Checklist
Before you have any operation, you may feel overwhelmed. To lessen this feeling, make a checklist of things to remember before the day of your surgery. Some things to remember include:
Personal items. Your comfort is important before, during, and after surgery. Make sure you bring any care items that will help you stay at ease. This might include glasses or contact lenses , false teeth, or a phone charger. Set these things aside in a bag before the day of surgery.
Medications. Bring a bag with all the medications you currently take. Make sure that you bring the labeled containers so that your doctor knows the amount youâre on.
Comfortable clothes. Wear a loose-fitting outfit. Something comfortable, like sweatpants, is always a good option to wear to surgery. Donât wear jewelry or any other metal objects. For your comfort, itâs a good idea to bring a pair of underwear thatâs one to two sizes bigger than what you normally wear. This will give you extra room after surgery.
Will A Child Conceived After My Cancer Treatment Be Healthy
There is no evidence that children conceived after cancer treatment are at an increased risk for birth defects or other health problems. However, its important to use birth control during treatment to ensure you dont conceive with sperm that may have been damaged from exposure to chemotherapy or radiation. This damage might affect the health of the child. We also recommend that you use birth control for 1 year after completing chemotherapy and radiation therapy to ensure all damaged sperm have been cleared from your body.
Some cancers are hereditary, or passed down from parents to children. Ask your doctor or nurse if you have a hereditary cancer. If you do, you can meet with a genetics counselor to learn how this may affect the health of a child.
If you have a specific genetic mutation that can be passed on to a child, you may want to consider preimplantation genetic testing . PGT is a method of testing embryos that have been created by in vitro fertilization for the mutation you have. If you want, you can then choose only those embryos that dont have the genetic mutation when youre ready to attempt pregnancy.
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Tips For Talking With Your Partner
Feeling less of a desire to have sex or having trouble getting an erection may affect your relationship. Try to be as open with your partner as you can. Here are some tips:
- Bring your partner with you to doctors visits. Being part of the conversation may help them understand what youre experiencing.
- Listen to your partners concerns, too. Remember that this issue affects both of you.
- See a therapist or a sex therapist to help you work out any issues that are affecting your sex life.
- If sex is a problem right now, its possible to fulfill each other sexually in other ways. Cuddling, kissing, and caressing can also be pleasurable.
How Can I Improve Incontinence After Prostate Surgery
Want to stop incontinence after prostate surgery? Kegels may be your answer! As mentioned above, kegels are a common treatment option for incontinence after prostate surgery. Among other things, the pelvic floor muscles help control bladder and bowel function and, like other muscles of the body, if they get weak they are no longer able to do their job effectively. To improve muscle function, kegels must be done regularly, every day. The good news is that they can be performed pretty much anywhere, anytime, and in a variety of positions . For a complete guide on performing a mens kegel, click here.)
Biofeedback can sometimes be used to determine if you are performing a kegel properly. And, electrical stimulation may also be used to help re-teach the muscles to contract.
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Is Red Wine Good For Prostate
A new study shows men who drink four or more glasses of red wine per week have a nearly 50% lower risk of prostate cancer than non-drinkers. In addition, researchers found that red wines protective effects appear to be even stronger against the most dangerous and aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
About Your Prostate Surgery
A radical prostatectomy is a surgery to remove your entire prostate gland and seminal vesicles. Some of the lymph nodes in your pelvis are removed as well. This is done to prevent cancer from spreading from your prostate to other parts of your body.
A radical prostatectomy can be done in 1 of 2 ways. One way is through an open incision , which is called an open prostatectomy. Another way is to use a laparoscope, which is a tube-like instrument with a camera. Your surgeon will talk with you about the best surgery option for you.
Open Prostatectomy
In an open prostatectomy, your surgeon will make an incision that goes from your pubic bone towards your belly button . Theyll remove the pelvic lymph nodes first, followed by the prostate gland, and then the structures next to it.
Figure 2. Open prostatectomy incisions
Laparoscopic or Robotic-Assisted Prostatectomy
During a laparoscopic or robotic-assisted prostatectomy, your surgeon will make several small incisions in your abdomen . Theyll insert a laparoscope into 1 of the incisions and use gas to expand your abdomen. Surgical instruments will be inserted into the other incisions to remove the prostate. Some surgeons at MSK are specially trained to use a robotic device to help with this procedure.
Figure 3. Laparoscopic or robotic-assisted prostatectomy incisions
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What Should I Drink After Prostate Surgery
After prostatectomy, patients have a bladder catheter, a type of flexible tube through which urine is released into a drainage bag. It is vital in these two weeks of bladder catheter to keep the urine flowing freely.
In this sense, patients should consume plenty of fluids during the day, approximately the equivalent of 8 or 10 glasses of water. On the other hand, it is of little importance the types of fluids that are to be consumed. It can be:
- Natural fruit juices.
Bleeding After Prostate Surgery
Bleeding after prostate surgery is among the most common problems. To prevent the problem, a drain system is installed in the surgical area, and in addition to this system, some treatments are also performed to prevent bleeding. Although bleeding after prostate surgery is not a sign of important problems, you should definitely contact your physician if the condition has become chronic.
There is a number of risks that can occur after prostate surgery. These risks may include urination problems, urinary incontinence, bleeding, and sexual dysfunction. In this article, we will talk about the bleeding problem faced after prostate surgery.
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Is It Bad To Press On Your Bladder
Pushing A healthy bladder functions best when the body just relaxes, allowing the bladder muscles to naturally contract and allow the urine to flow, rather than utilizing the abdominal muscles to bear down as with a bowel movement. However, since we live in an aging population where many people have worn-out backs or necks, they need to use their abdominal muscles more often. This can lead to problems if you are also pushing out your pelvic floor muscles, which help control your urinary tract as well as your digestive system.
If you are exercising regularly and maintaining good health, then it is not going to cause you any problems if you press on your bladder every time you go to the bathroom. But if you have an underlying medical condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, then it is important to tell your doctor before starting a new exercise regimen. He or she will be able to advise you on whether pressing on your bladder is safe for you.
Can I Have Sex During Treatment
There are a few factors that determine if sexual activity is safe during treatment.
- In general, sexual activity is fine during treatment as interest, energy, and comfort levels allow. While you may not feel up to sexual intimacy after surgeries or during chemotherapy and radiation hugging, kissing, holding hands, and massages may feel good and be comforting.
- If you had surgery involving the pelvic area , you may need to allow extra time for healing before having sex that involves penile stimulation or vaginal or rectal penetration . If you are being treated for oral cancer, use caution during oral sex.
- If you have mouth sores , you should not perform oral sex.
- Do not have vaginal intercourse if you have open sores on your genitals.
- If you received brachytherapy for prostate cancer , be sure to follow your oncology teamâs guidance about limiting close physical contact to avoid exposing your partner to radiation.
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Incontinence After Prostate Surgery Forums
Going through prostate cancer and having your prostate removed can be a physically and emotionally trying time in life. Many men are unprepared for the extent to which they may experience bladder leaks after prostate removal and it can be disheartening to have undergone surgery only to experience a loss of bladder control for a period afterward.
Fortunately, this is usually resolved within a year. During that time though, you may find that you need someone to talk to about your experience. Finding a forum or message board filled with people who can relate can help ease some of the tensions that you may be going through.
The NAFC message boards are a great way to connect with others who may also be experiencing incontinence, due to prostate surgery or other conditions. Theyre free to join and the forum is anonymous so you can speak freely without the worry of feeling embarrassed or ashamed. NAFC is proud of this amazing group of individuals who visit the forums and courageously share their stories, offer support, and provide inspiration to each other. We encourage you to check it out!
How Prostate Cancer Causes Diet Problems
Some cancer treatments can lead to long term changes to your diet, affecting how you eat and what you can eat.
Advice about what you should eat is different if you are underweight. For example, you should eat full fat products to add calories to your diet.
Always speak to your doctor, specialist nurse or dietitian if you have problems with diet or weight loss. They can give you advice about how to adapt your diet.
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Postoperative Care After Prostate Surgery
After a healthy operation and discharge, there are some rules that you must follow. There is a risk of bleeding for the first several months after surgery. Therefore, there are some points to take into consideration. The length of the recovery period after prostate cancer surgery varies depending on some conditions. There are factors such as the type of surgery, the stage of disease, and the patient’s health status. However, overall recovery time is short.
Prevent Constipation With Fiber
Constipation is common after surgery on the digestive tract, but it can happen after any procedure.
One reason is that prescription pain medications you may take after surgeryespecially opioidscan lead to decreased bowel movements.Being constipated can also reduce your appetite, increase your pain level, and put stress on your incisions. These factors can get in the way of your healing.
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Urinary Health After Prostate Surgery
Mens Health|May 24, 2017| Author: Naturopath
prostate, men
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australian men. This form of cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop in the prostate in an uncontrolled way. They can also spread outside the prostate into nearby or distant parts of the body. Unfortunately for some males they may need to have their prostate partly or fully removedreferred to medically as a prostatectomy. Its important that males look after themselves after such a surgery to reduce any complications and to speed up recovery.
What To Eat After Surgery And What To Avoid
If youve had surgery, the foods you eat in the days, weeks, and months after your procedure can affect your healing and recovery.
Eating the right foods can help prevent complications after surgery, such as constipation, high blood sugar , and infections.
This article explains which foods to eat and which ones to avoid after surgery. It also offers tips for eating when you dont have an appetite.
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How To Add More Tomatoes To Your Diet
Incorporating more tomato-based recipes into your diet is simple.
There are many nutritious tomato dishes to try. For example, adding some sun-dried or fresh tomatoes to salads, eating your eggs with sliced tomatoes or salsa, and enjoying tomato-based soups are excellent ways to boost your lycopene intake.
In the summer months, you can buy fresh, local tomatoes to add to sandwiches and chop into salads.
Drinking plain tomato juice each morning is another good option. Just make sure to pick a low sodium variety.
Summary
How Will Prostate Surgery Affect My Sex Life
Experienced robotic surgeons like Dr. David Samadi dont open the endopelvic fascia during surgery, which spares the rick of damage to nerve bundles that control sexual function. The recovery of the function, however, is not immediate and you should not feel discouraged if weeks or even a few months after surgery you experience erectile dysfunction. It is not an indication of long-term damage.
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What Are Possible Complications Of Surgery
Because a cystoprostatectomy is such a complicated procedure, things can go wrong. The chances of developing a complication in the first 90 days after surgery approaches 50%, Richstone says.
But a large number of those are mild or moderate and can be managed, he adds. Such complications might include:
- Urine blockages
You might get blood clots, but these can be prevented with compression stockings and blood-thinning medications.
Given that the nerves that are involved with erections are next to the prostate and bladder, men can lose some sexual function after having a cystoprostatectomy. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, experienced surgeons may be able to perform ânerve-sparingâ surgery to keep the ability to get an erection, Richstone says.
The risk of death is approximately 2% to 3%, Li says.
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What Causes Incontinence After Prostate Surgery
Urinary incontinence is a potential side effect of prostate removal surgery. The prostate is located just below the bladder and surrounds the urethra. Removing it , 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. In this instance, men are usually experiencing stress urinary incontinence, which is a type of incontinence that happens when you place increased pressure on the bladder. Things like sneezing, coughing, working out, and even standing up can cause you to leak urine.
For emergencies that cant wait, call 911.
- You have a persistent or recurring temperature greater than 101 F or repeated chills.
- Your catheter stops draining urine despite adequate hydration and no kinks in the tubing.
- Your urine in your Foley catheter is cloudy, foul smelling or persistently bloody .
- You have no bowel movement by day five after surgery.
- You have an unexplained severe pain that you didnt experience while in the hospital.
- You are nauseated or vomiting.
- You have asymmetrical leg swelling .
- You have worsening redness, swelling or drainage from your incisions.
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Caring For The Incision
You will be able to take a shower the second day after your surgery. You may continue to have some discharge at the drain site for three to five days. Once you leave the hospital, the key words on caring for the drain site and incisions are clean and dry. Showering once a day and gently patting the area with a clean towel should be sufficient.
Sexual Life After Prostate Removal
This post is for all the men who have prostate cancer or are worried about prostate cancer. One of the most feared side effects of therapy for prostate cancer is the impact on sexual health.
Hopefully this will give men a better idea of what to expect and take some of the fear of the unknown away.
The net effect of someone having his prostate removed is:
Factors that are responsible for the ability to get erections are:
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