The prostate is a gland at the base of the penis that is responsible for making the liquid part of semen. If it becomes cancerous, which typically occurs with older men, it can be treated with radiation or with surgery.
Radiation
Radiation therapy can cause men to feel a burning or painful sensation after urinating, the American College of Radiology explains. Impotence is another common side effect of radiation therapy, and often gets worse over time. Advances in radiation technology, however, allow for the treatment to be better focused to help minimize side effects.
Surgery
Surgery for prostate cancer, also known as a radical prostatectomy, is more invasive and requires a longer hospital stay. Men may experience pain and develop problems with urinary incontinence and impotence after the procedure. These side effects typically go away over time, however.
Effectiveness Comparison
There is some debate as to whether radiation treatment is as effective as surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer. A 2008 article published in Radiation Oncology titled "Surgery vs. radiotherapy in localized prostate cancer. Which is best?" found that although studies suggest that surgery may be more effective as a treatment for prostate cancer, more studies still need to be done.
