Prostate Cancer
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system and is responsible for the generation of much of the fluid that makes up semen. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer occurs 99 percent of the time in the glandular cells of the prostate, where it is called prostate adenocarcinoma. Many doctors believe that prostate cancer develops from another condition known as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, which causes the prostate cells to mutate and appear different (when viewed under a microscope) than normal cells. Although prostate cancer has the ability to spread (a process known as metastasis), it typically does so very slowly. According to the American Cancer Society, 70 to 90 percent of men have prostate cancer by the age of 80, but many are not aware of it and it does not cause enough symptoms to require further examination or diagnosis. In cases where there are symptoms, however, they typically begin with problems urinating, such as difficulty urinating, a weak urine stream or feelings of urgency regarding urination.
Bowel Leakage and Surgery
Although prostate cancer on its own will generally not cause bowel leakage, some of the treatments can have side effects. One of the more common treatments for prostate cancer is surgery which attempts to remove the cancerous cells. A recent study, which was published in the "Nature" scientific journal in 2004 examined the risk of bowel problems in men who had undergone surgical treatment for prostate cancer. This study, which was performed by Doctors Korman, Mulholland and Huang from the William Beaumont Hospital and Cancer Center in Michigan, compared the incidence of bowel problems in men who had received either one of two different surgical treatments for prostate cancer or in men who had not received any surgery. This study found that there was not an increased risk of bowel leakage when the two surgical procedures were compared, nor when the patients who had received surgery were compared to those who had not.
Bowel Leakage and Radiation
Another method of treating prostate cancer involves the use of radiotherapy. Radiotherapy uses high energy X-rays to attack and kill the cancerous cells, though the radiation can cause damage to other tissues as well, which can lead to bowel leakage and other intestinal problems. Radiotherapy can be performed in two different ways: external beam therapy, in which the X-rays are generated by a device which is outside of the body, and brachytherapy, in which a small piece of radioactive material is placed in or near the tumor. According to the American Cancer Society, recent studies have shown that brachytherapy causes less risk of bowel leakage than external beam therapy. Consequently, it may prove to be a better treatment option that external beam therapy for men who are concerned about bowel leakage.
References
- American Cancer Society; What is Prostate Cancer?
- Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases; Preservation of fecal continence and bowel function after radical perineal and retropubic prostatectomy: a questionnaire-based outcomes study; H. J. Korman, T. L. Mulholland and R. Huang; July 13, 2004
- American Cancer Society; Quality of Life Studies May Help Men Choose Prostate Treatment; September 18, 2001
