The prostateThe prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the bla... Full Definition lies deep in the abdomen and is also next to the rectumThe final section of the large intestine, which ends at the ... Full Definition. It’s hard to get to during biopsies and also for treatments such as radiationHigh-energy particles that cause ionization and tissue damag... Full Definition and surgery. The rectum is an access point, and therefore is subject to damage. It may also introduce infection risks. As a result, a range of side effects may occur from both diagnostics and treatment.
Infection: Infection may occur after a prostate biopsyAn examination of tissue removed from the body to understand... Full Definition, surgery to remove the prostate, High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), or cryotherapyThe use of low temperatures in medical therapy.. Doctors prescribe antibiotics to patients prior to these procedures to help prevent infection and take many precautions to prevent infection. Older men who are at a higher risk of infection may consider this risk factor more seriously than younger men. Chemotherapy also can make people more vulnerable to infection. Some other medical conditions may make you prone to infection, so ask your doctor if you should consider this when making a decision about your treatment.
Rectal and bowel problems: It is possible that surgery or radiation treatment will cause damage to the rectum. Radiation therapy can cause longer-term problems such as painful bowel movements, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, rectal bleeding, or uncontrolled bowel movements. Advances in therapy have lowered the risk of these side effects, but they are serious concerns.
For instance, brachytherapyA form of radiotherapy where small radioactive implants are ... Full Definition, using radioactive seeds in the prostate, may have lower risks of rectal damage or risks only of hemorrhoids and diarrhea. More precise radiation techniques (such as IMRT, proton beam radiation, or radiosurgery) are less likely to damage healthy rectal tissue, but, in some cases, the cancerCancer is a group of diseases where cells grow abnormally an... Full Definition has advanced to a point that requires treatment of surrounding tissues. Brachytherapy and cryotherapy, freezing the prostate, have rare risks of rectal fistula, a hole between the rectal wall and urethraThe duct urine (and semen for men) passes through on the way... Full Definition that can cause rectal leaking and urinary tractThe organs of the body that produce, store, and discharge ur... Full Definition infections. Chemotherapy can also cause diarrhea.
Follow-up surgery may be required to correct a serious rectal problem.
Risk of second primary cancer: Rarely, radiation therapy for prostate cancer can cause a second cancer to develop, usually more than 10 years after treatment. This is not common and primarily a risk for those who receive radiation therapy at a younger age.
Side effects of hormone therapy: TestosteroneA sex hormone secreted by the testes. normally works on tissues all over the body, so inactivation of this hormone with Testosterone Inactivating Pharmaceuticals (TIP) can cause changes in unexpected places. There are many different medications that have unique side effects, so you will have to review them with your doctor once a specific drug is recommended. One common side effect is gynecomastia: men taking TIP may feel breast tenderness and breast enlargement. Other potential side effects include loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, hot flashes, fatigue, mood changes, decrease in mental sharpness, muscle shrinkage, weight gain with increase of fat, bone thinning, and changes in the way your body looks including genital shrinkage. Some other rare problems your doctor will monitor you for include an increased risk of diabetes (or worsening control of your diabetes if you already have it), raised cholesterol, liver damage, anemia, risk of heart disease, and stroke. Many of these side effects can be managed by your doctor. However, it is possible some of these side effects may not go away if you stop treatment.
It is important to eat a healthy diet and to exercise to maintain strength and vitality. Men with extreme or intolerable changes due to TIP may want to add an endocrinologist to their care team. Some doctors are also experimenting with shorter-term treatment with TIP, which may reduce side effects. There is some evidence that over the long haul, TIP may be associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Current studies are also evaluating whether this androgen deprivation therapy may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but this is not clear yet.
Fatigue: Prostate cancer is a heavy burden and treatment decisions are difficult. Men may experience fatigue just dealing with this condition and may want to consult a social worker or counselor to help improve sleep and manage emotions and social challenges.
Chemotherapy, hormone therapy (TIP), radiation therapy, and immunotherapyStimulating the body's own immune response to fight disease.... Full Definition also cause fatigue. Rest, regular exercise, and a healthy diet may help.
Chemotherapy side effects: Chemotherapy is toxic medicine that kills cancer cells but also may kill other healthy cells. These drugs can cause mouth sores, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Patients might not be hungry or might bruise easily or be easily worn out. They might have an increased risk of infections of any kind. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause fluid buildup in the body, while others may cause an allergic reaction. Some chemotherapy causes hair thinning or loss and some can cause changes to your skin and nails. Each chemotherapy drug is different and your doctor will go over the specific side effects of the drug you will be taking. Most side effects will go away when you finish chemotherapy; however, you should talk to your doctor about side effects that could be permanent.
Immunotherapy side effects: Immunotherapy alters the immune response, like a vaccine, so it might cause reactions similar to those experienced after a flu shot. Some patients experience chills, fever, or nausea, mostly during the infusion of the medicine. The vaccine may require a catheter or large IV to be placed in order to do the treatment.
Side effects of radiopharmaceuticals: These drugs use mild radioactivity as internal medicine. They bring radiation directly to cancer spots in the bone. They can cause a flare-up of bone pain, low blood counts (sometimes requiring blood transfusion), fatigue, nausea and vomiting or diarrhea, swelling of the legs or hands, dehydration, and pain where the medicine is injected.
Side effects of medications to protect the bones: These medications are used in patients undergoing certain types of TIP to help prevent bone loss or, in some patients with cancer that has spread to the bone, to help prevent fractures and pain. These medicines can be very helpful, but you should be aware that they can cause a rare problem with the jaw bone called osteonecrosis of the jaw. Men with this side effect can lose teeth or have problems with their jaw bone healing after a tooth is lost. Men who get dental extractions or significant dental work after starting the bone-protecting medications or those with poor dental health are most at risk. Ask your doctor if you may need these medications and then talk to your dentist and tell them you may need this medication in the future.