Several different therapies are available for the treatment of prostate cancer. The choice of which therapy or combination of therapies will be used depends on the speed of the cancer growth, the spread of the cancer and the patient's health, according to MayoClinic.com. The types of therapies include radiation, surgery, hormone therapy and chemotherapy. Each one of these treatments has side effects associated with it.
Urinary Problems
Urinary dysfunction can occur after several different treatments for prostate cancer. Patients may develop painful urination and urinary frequency after radiation therapy according to MayoClinic.com. After surgery for prostate cancer, the patient may experience urinary incontinence.
Rectal Problems
After radiation therapy, the rectum can become irritated and the patient may have pain when passing stool, notes MayoClinic.com. Bowel movements may become more frequent after radiation therapy, according to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction may be a side effect of prostate surgery, depending on whether the surgery spares the nerves needed for an erection, notes The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center website. Erectile dysfunction also may occur with hormone and radiation therapies.
Infertility
Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy for prostate cancer can all cause infertility, which might be temporary or permanent, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. To prepare for the possibility of infertility, sperm can be frozen before cancer treatment, allowing a man to father a child at a later date, or following cancer treatment, taking sperm directly from the testicles is an option.
Menopausal Symptoms
The use of hormone therapy for prostate cancer causes side effects that are similar to the symptoms of menopause, according to American Society of Clinical Oncology. These include hot flashes, loss of bone mass, depression, weight gain and loss of muscle mass. These patients are also at higher risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. There are strategies and therapies available to manage these side effects after the treatment for prostate cancer.
Nausea, Hair Loss and Infection
Patients who receive chemotherapy for prostate cancer may suffer from nausea, vomiting, hair loss, increased numbers of infection, and fatigue as noted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. These symptoms are generally temporary and end after the chemotherapy ends.
