Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in American men. Fortunately, prostate cancer has a high survivability rate, especially when caught early – and patients can enjoy a long life after receiving treatment.
This form of cancer can be effectively treated with surgery; advanced prostate cancer may also be treated with radiation and hormone therapy. It is indeed possible to be cured of prostate cancer.
There are certain changes that you may experience after having survived the disease. To help you navigate life after prostate cancer, a men’s health specialist is your ideal partner in handling any issues you may deal with as your body recovers and gets back to normal.
Adjusting to Side Effects After Prostate Cancer Treatment
Your urologist can help treat any side effects you may experience after having prostate cancer treatment, and these side effects can include the following:
Urinary incontinence. Following a radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate gland), you may experience urinary incontinence or stress incontinence, which is characterized by urine leakage when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exert physical effort. This has to do with the sphincter control not working properly for a while after the surgery.
A men’s health specialist can help you to control your urinary incontinence, recommend exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, and monitor any other symptoms that may be due to the surgery.
Erectile dysfunction. Trouble achieving and/or maintaining an erection is also common after prostate cancer surgery. It is normal to experience erectile dysfunction (ED) after recovering from the operation, so men are usually prescribed Viagra or another ED treatment. Other treatment methods include penile injections, which a men’s health specialist can provide.
Infertility. A man’s fertility is also affected after prostate cancer treatment. In a prostatectomy, the prostate and the vesicles that carry the semen (which serves as the vehicle for sperm) are removed. Radiation therapy can also impair a man’s ability to father children. If you wish to father children after your prostate surgery, it is recommended that you bank your sperm beforehand.
Dealing with Metastatic Prostate Cancer
If your prostate cancer has spread to other organs, a men’s health specialist is a key part of your healthcare team to stifle the cancer and prevent it from spreading further. Working closely with a men’s health specialist also helps to reduce your risk of other diseases through lifestyle changes and health monitoring, because metastatic prostate cancer and its treatment can make your body more vulnerable to other issues.
Men’s Health Specialist in Phoenix, AZ
Life after prostate cancer demands proper medical support. Dr. Desi Avila is an experienced urologist here in Phoenix, and he specializes in men’s health issues of all kinds. Dr. Avila understands the emotional roller-coaster that comes after having prostate cancer treatment, and he provides individualized medical services to enhance a man’s lifestyle.
If you would like to schedule a prostate cancer screening or a men’s health consultation, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (480) 961-2323 or by filling out our online request form now. We look forward to helping you get back to enjoying life once again.
