In men, the prostate is a small gland that sits beneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra--the small tube that carries urine out of the body. The Prostate Cancer Foundation estimates that approximately one in every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Surgical removal of the prostate gland is a common form of treatment for prostate cancer. The patient should thoroughly discuss the possible side effects of prostate removal with an oncologist and urologist before deciding on this form of treatment.
Pain
Following surgical removal of the prostate, men can experience pain at the incision sites. This side effect of prostate removal is temporary and will progressively ease as the incisions begin to heal. The doctor may recommend the use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to help manage painful side effects after prostate removal, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center says. Report side effects of severe, persistent pain accompanied by unusual swelling or bleeding to a doctor immediately. These side effects can be signs of infection.
Urinary or Fecal Incontinence
During prostate removal, the surgeon can damage the nerves that control the bladder. As a result, certain men can experience urinary incontinence as a side effect, according to the National Cancer Institute. Urinary incontinence is a condition characterized by the inability to voluntarily control the flow of urine. Men with this condition can experience urine leakage or may only produce a weak, dribbling stream during urination. Certain patients may also experience fecal incontinence, which can result in stool leakage from the rectum. These side effects can be embarrassing to some men. Urinary and fecal incontinence after prostate removal are typically temporary and will resolve within a few months following surgery, the American Cancer Society says.
Erectile Dysfunction
In healthy men, the prostate gland is involved in the production and storage of semen, the liquid solution that transports sperm out of the penis during ejaculation. When doctors remove the prostate gland, they may damage the nerves involved in penile erection. As a result, men can experience erectile dysfunction as a side effect. Erectile dysfunction or impotence is a condition in which a man is unable to achieve or sustain an erection. Approximately 25 to 30 percent of men who have nerve-sparing prostate removal surgery experience erectile dysfunction, according to the American Cancer Society. In certain men, erectile difficulties may progressively subside within the first two years following surgery. Men who regain erectile function after prostate removal surgery will be able to experience dry but pleasurable orgasms and will be unable to impregnate a woman. Depending upon a patient's age, selected surgical procedure and stage of prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction side effects can be permanent.
References
- American Cancer Society: Prostate Cancer - Surgery
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Radical Prostatectomy
- National Cancer Institute: Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Prostate Cancer Foundation: An Introduction to Prostate Cancer
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Prostate Cancer - Erectile Dysfunction
