A Rectangle Has Opposite Sides

Photograph Courtesy: iStock.com/Jan-Otto

Prostate health awareness has increased in recent years, and for a expert reason. Prostate cancer is the number one cancer diagnosis for men and a leading cause of cancer decease in men worldwide. When cancer develops in the tissue of this small gland found only in males, i of the possible treatment options is the surgical removal of the prostate via a procedure known as a prostatectomy. However, if you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, it is essential to weigh your treatment options advisedly. Read on to larn about the side effects of removing the prostate.

The prostate produces seminal fluid, and its removal can crusade fertility issues. In add-on, as the gland surrounds the urethra, information technology helps command urination. While the side effects can be daunting, prostate removal is strongly recommended in some cases.

There are ii common reasons to remove a prostate gland. The commencement is to treat prostate cancer. Around x to 15 cases of prostate cancer are aggressive and can spread to other parts of the body if non treated chop-chop. You may opt to remove the malignant tissue to reduce its chances of spreading, while others want to avert radiation; both tin can be reasons for surgery.

Another reason to remove the prostate is if you lot develop benign growths on the prostate, chosen benign prostatic hyperplasia. These can cause the prostate to swell and make urination difficult. Still, surgery is only required in the most severe cases when minimally invasive procedures have failed.

What Is a Prostatectomy?

A prostatectomy refers to the medical procedure in which all or part of the prostate gland is removed. Depending on your need for surgery, the gland may be removed entirely or reduced in size.

A radical prostatectomy refers to removing the entire gland, attached seminal vesicles, and sometimes surrounding lymph nodes. This is frequently performed if you take local, ambitious prostate cancer. The surgeon may remove pieces of the prostate or obstructions in other cases. This blazon of surgery is a simple prostatectomy often offered to people with an enlarged prostate.

There are different procedures for removing all or part of the gland, including laparoscopy, robotic surgery, or open surgery via an incision.

Side Effects of Removing the Prostate

While it is peachy to be cancer-free, a prostatectomy is not without risks or side effects. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra and sits close to the muscles responsible for starting and stopping urination. Fretfulness in the expanse that command erections are likewise susceptible to impairment.

The almost common side effects of removing the prostate are:

Urinary incontinence
Sexual dysfunction
Fertility bug
Contradistinct bowel office

Urinary Incontinence

The prostate surrounds the urethra. When the surgeon removes the prostate, they reconnect the urethra to the bladder. A sphincter or opening at the base of the bladder tin exist prone to damage during surgery. As a issue, you may experience leaking and difficulty urinating post-surgery. Fortunately, with time and muscle training, this can improve.

Yous are required to utilize a catheter for about one week after surgery, which your doctor volition remove. Yous can restart normal activities can about 1 calendar month afterward surgery. However, urinary incontinence may persist across this time.

Sexual Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most mutual mail-procedural side consequence; about 4 in ten people experience ED afterward a prostatectomy. The delicate nerves and blood vessels that control the physical aspects of an erection can lose functionality with fifty-fifty the slightest trauma. Nonetheless, a skilled surgeon and healing menstruum can let people without nerve impairment to return to normal role inside one to two years.

Fertility Bug

Fertility issues are another meaning side upshot of a prostatectomy. Every bit the seminal vesicles are removed forth with the prostate, the semen that carries the sperm can no longer exit the body. Without ejaculation, conception cannot occur naturally.

Contradistinct Bowel Function

Bowel incontinence and reduced bowel part are not common side effects of removing the prostate. Only nearly 1% of people report this symptom following surgery.

Life Later Prostate Removal

Inquiry has found that a prostatectomy results in life expectancy frequently exceeding ten years for those with cancer. Such a favorable outcome tin can significantly motivate people with cancer to accept their prostate removed.

Withal, life after a prostatectomy may exist different from how information technology was before. For at least the first half dozen months mail service-surgery, nigh people face urinary incontinence and may choose to habiliment a thin pad. In improver, although nerve damage is dependent on many factors, erectile dysfunction is also common. Several treatments are bachelor for these conditions, including strengthening exercises for the bladder and pelvic muscles and oral medications or injections for ED.

Nevertheless, the emotional stress of a prostatectomy can take its toll. People may experience a lowered libido and depressed mood. This is specially the example if hormone therapy has preceded surgery. The gravity of a cancer diagnosis alone tin be traumatic.

Consider Your Options

Whether you're worried about the emotional bear on or the physical side effects of prostate removal, information technology is essential to weigh your options carefully. Your urologist can help you consider the advantages and disadvantages and item your treatment options. While at that place are treatments available to gainsay some of the side effects of a prostatectomy, consider the bear upon this procedure will accept on your quality of life and the alternatives to surgery.

Resources Links:

"Prostatectomy: What to Expect During Surgery and Recovery" via Johns Hopkins Medicine
"Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)" via Johns Hopkins Medicine
"Prostate Cancer" via – StatPearls
"Life After Prostate Cancer Treatment" via Urology Care Foundation
"The prostate cancer predicament" via Harvard Thursday Chan School of Public Health
"Surgery for Prostate Cancer" via American Cancer Guild
"Surgery Side Furnishings" via Prostate Cancer Foundation
"Survival later on radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a population-based study" via Canadian Urological Clan Periodical
"What Is A Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)?" via Prostate Cancer Foundation