I was told by my urologist to go for radiation treatments to the prostatic fossa (cavity) after failing a radical prostatectomy. What are the side effects of postprostatectomy radiation therapy?
Incontinence usually occurs in less than 5 percent of patients. The increase over a radical prostatectomy alone for severe incontinence is less than 1 percent. Blood in the urine (usually temporary) is less than 5 percent. Major rectal bleeding (usually temporary) is up to 6 percent, and bowel urgency and incontinence is less than 5 percent. An increase of impotence of about 30 percent occurs after radiation therapy compared with radical prostatectomy only.
Related Questions
- I was told by my urologist to go for radiation treatments to the prostatic fossa (cavity) after failing a radical prostatectomy. What are the side effects of postprostatectomy radiation therapy?
- If I just had a radical prostatectomy and had disease involving the capsule, what is the evidence to support my receiving radiation therapy postoperatively?
- What are the results of adjuvant radiation therapy after radical prostatectomy?
