Life Expectancy in Prostate Cancer

Many affected individuals suffer not only from the diagnosis of prostate cancer, but also from the side effects of the therapy. For this reason, this should be attended to by an experienced urologist and the advantages as well as disadvantages of the various options of therapy should be discussed in advance. For this purpose, regular control and, if necessary, an adjustment of the treatment are necessary in prostate cancer.

Side effects after prostate surgery or therapy

Here are the main side effects of the various methods of therapy for prostate cancer:

  • Surgery: common side effects of surgery – not just prostate surgery – are bleeding, inflammation, wound healing problems. In one-third to one-half of prostate cancer patients, nerve injury occurs during or after prostate surgery, which can lead to erectile dysfunction and even impotence. Involuntary urination (urinary incontinence) is also a possible complication – which often returns to normal within weeks to months after prostate surgery. In five to ten percent of cases, however, it persists.
  • Radiotherapy: as a result of tissue destruction, 30 to 40 percent of patients experience permanent erection problems after radiotherapy as part of prostate cancer treatment. Problems with urination or bowel (diarrhea) are usually temporary and become chronic in only three to five percent of those affected.
  • Hormone therapy: possible consequences of hormone therapy are, depending on the drug, gastrointestinal complaints, disturbances in liver function and painful swelling of the mammary glands. Also common are hot flashes and sweats, impotence, and decrease in sexual desire. The drugs increase the risk of diabetes and bone loss.
  • Chemotherapy: the most common side effects for the duration of therapy are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, hair loss, increased susceptibility to infection and allergic reactions.

Incontinence after prostate surgery

As particularly burdensome, sufferers usually find the impairment of libido and potency, as well as urinary incontinence. In addition, quality of life can also be severely impaired by pain due to metastases. Many of the consequences of prostate cancer therapy can be specifically improved – for example, urinary incontinence can be successfully counteracted with consistent pelvic floor exercises.

In the case of other consequences of prostate therapy, on the other hand, the affected person (and his or her partner) must adjust accordingly – support and advice are provided by doctors and self-help groups. Often, after discharge from the hospital, a stay in a rehabilitation facility follows, which serves not only to recover, but also to cope with the disease and everyday life.

Medical follow-up examinations are important – in the first two years about every three months, later at greater intervals. Not only can secondary diseases of prostate cancer be detected and treated, but a recurrence of prostate cancer can also be detected early.

Prostate cancer: life expectancy and chances of cure.

In the early stages, when prostate cancer is still inside the prostate capsule, it is curable by surgery. However, even if the prostate cancer is larger, there are chances of cure. Even if it has already metastasized, the prostate cancer life expectancy can still be ten years or more. Nevertheless, ten percent of all male deaths caused by cancer are due to prostate cancer. That’s why early detection of prostate cancer is so important to preserve chances of cure.