What to Consider About Side Effects

Patients diagnosed with prostate cancer today have many treatment options. It is important to discuss all potential side effects with your doctor as you make decisions about treatment.

Because the prostate is close to several vital structures in the body, prostate cancer and its treatments can disrupt normal urinary, bowel, and sexual functioning. Androgen hormones, especially testosterone, act as fuel for prostate cancer cells, but are also important for many normal body functions. Therapies that block testosterone can also impact metabolism, sex drive, and mood.

Things to Consider About Side Effects

• For patients diagnosed with localized disease, recognize that many of the side effects that men fear most after radiation therapy or surgery are less frequent and severe than they have been in the past
• Talk with your doctor about your lifestyle and what is most important to you when choosing among treatment options
• Ask about any changes you can make to your health habits to help reduce or avoid specific side effects
• If you receive more than one type of treatment (e.g., surgery, then radiation therapy), you will be exposed to the side effects of both treatments, which is likely to be cumulative and have a greater effect than either treatment alone
• There are options to treat the side effects themselves. Early management of side effects has been shown to help patients live longer, better lives

Learn more about treatment impacts and how they can be managed.