What To Expect After Prostate Cancer Treatment Is Done

• Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is another possible side effect as a result of treatment for prostate cancer. Incontinence is the inability to control your urine. Whether a man may have this depends on his age, bladder function and experience of your doctor. An experienced surgeon can reduce the risk of incontinence after prostate surgery. The type of incontinence may include the following:
• Stress incontinence – This is the most common with urine leakage that occurs when coughing, laughing, sneezing, or exercise.
• Overflow incontinence – This is the inability to empty the bladder completely, taking longer to urinate and having a weak stream.
• Over active bladder (OAB) incontinence – This is the sudden need to go to the bathroom even when the bladder not full because the bladder is overly sensitive.
• Mixed incontinence – A combination of stress and OAB incontinence with symptoms from both types.
Most men will experience some short term incontinence after surgery. This usually does not last long but some men may have it up to six to twelve months. There is treatment based on the type and severity of incontinence which include:
• Kegel exercises to strengthen the bladder
• Lifestyle changes of modifying the diet, losing weight and regular emptying of the bladder
• Medications helping to maintain better control
• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation – This strengthens the bladder muscles to gain better control of urinary continence