Side Effects Of Radiation Treatment For Prostate Cancer


Prostate cancer is not a word that anyone likes to hear but the good news is that the recovery from prostate cancer is quite high if you and your doctor can catch it early enough. Watch for signs of prostate cancer and always go in for regular checkups and examinations in order to maintain prostate health. If you do need to have radiation therapy for prostate cancer there is a chance that you will deal with incontinence and a series of other side effects. Knowing the side effects can help you to be properly prepared for your condition and to make sure your loved ones also know what to expect with this new phase in your life.


Using radiation therapy for prostate cancer can be quite damaging on your body. The goal of radiation therapy is to kill the cancer cells but it often leaves your body broken down and vulnerable to other diseases and infections as well. Many patients will experience fatigue, nausea, and a handful of other symptoms on a daily basis.

The best thing you can do in order to help with the treatment is to do exactly as you are told and to eat healthy. Proper nutrition will give your body the strength that it needs in order to recover and to provide you with energy. It also gives your other cells the nutrients that they need to have in order to properly fight the infection.

Watch this video.  How to choose the right incontinence product. 

Commonly you will see some changes in your skin, especially right after a radiation treatment. In most cases the area being treated may be red and quite sensitive and may even swell. In about 6 weeks most of the skin conditions will fade away. This can be painful on you as you have to worry about urine that can infect and irritate the skin. Using incontinence wipes and comfortable incontinence underwear can help you to manage. The underwear will pull the urine from the skin so that it doesn’t become itchy.

You may also deal with some other side effects from the radiation treatment as well like having decreased sensitivity in the area. Many males report troubles getting or maintaining an erection after the procedure. Sometimes this can last for a year or longer as your body works on recovering from the procedure. Dealing with incontinence is usually a common side effect that lasts 3-12 months. Most males report that they have urge incontinence after the radiation therapy.

Urge incontinence is when you have the sudden urge to urinate and it may come on frequently. You often experience it several times in the day and even in the night. To protect yourself from accidents you need to wear adult diapers or some other type of incontinence underwear to capture any urine that does escape without your control. It is advisable to use incontinence bed pads as well in order to protect your bedding from damage due to urine loss. If you notice any blood in the urine, contact your doctor immediately.

Depending upon your age and energy level, your doctor may also recommend that you try and limit physical exercise for a little while. It is quite common to deal with fatigue to the extent that you need to start taking a daily nap so you can feel better. Notice your body and be sensitive to it’s needs so you are not pushing yourself too hard.

In some rare cases you may also experience diarrhea after radiation treatment. If this happens to you, adult diapers are a good option to consider just in the event that you do start suffering from fecal incontinence. It’s also smart to use them if you have limited mobility and it’s hard for you to get to the bathroom quickly before your bowels release.

Call us.  That's why were here.

About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visit http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353

0 comments:

Post a Comment