Prostate radiation therapy is a common treatment used to shrink tumors or minimize symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate. Radiation therapy for the prostate comes with long-term side effects. Although it's impossible to determine which, if any, of these will be experienced, it's possible that many are permanent and require additional treatment to reduce their symptoms.
Impotence
Radiation for prostate cancer can damage the nerves that control an erection. The UK website cancerhelp.org says close to 70 percent of men aren't able to get or sustain an erection after treatment. The risk of impotence also increases if hormone therapy occurs before or after radiation treatment, or if you are younger than 65. Drugs such as Viagra can help if started early after completing treatment, but they must be taken under a doctor's supervision.
Urination Problems
Radiation to the prostate regions can cause incontinence and difficulty passing urine, although the latter is the most common long-term side effect. Radiation causes the tube that connects the bladder to the penis to narrow, causing strain during urination and in some cases blocking urine flow altogether. Fortunately, this tube can be stretched to relieve straining during urination. Cancerhelp.org estimates that between 5 percent and 8 percent of all men require this surgery.
Although much more rare due to technological advances in prostate radiation therapy, full or partial incontinence is a possible long-term side effect of treatment. Doctors prescribe medication to aid with this issue.
Rectal Irritation
Inflammation of the rectum, known as procitis, is a common long-term side effect. Proctitis can cause a feeling of needing to strain whether a bowel movement is present or not, as well as rectal bleeding and mucous discharge. The American Cancer Society reports that up to 15 percent of men treated with radiation for prostate cancers have rectal irritation, with symptoms often improving over six years.
