Prostate Cancer Recovery
Prostate cancer affects thousands of American men every year. The side effects of a prostatectomy used to be severe at one time, but newer technology and nerve-sparing surgery have lessened the complications of surgical side effects. Still, after undergoing a prostatectomy there are lifestyle changes and adjustments that you need to make to avoid a recurrence and maintain a higher quality of life.-
What to Expect After Surgery
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Your hospital stay will probably not be for more than two or three days. You will need to use a catheter for about two or three weeks until your urethra has fully healed. You will need to keep the catheter clean and check it regularly to make sure that it is in place. You may need to use an antibiotic ointment for any skin irritation caused by long-term use of the catheter. Pain after surgery often can be managed with ibuprofen but you may receive some prescribed pain medication from your doctor for the days immediately following surgery. It is quite possible that you will feel very good after surgery but you must use caution and refrain from attempting to resume your regular activities too soon. Try to avoid lifting anything over 10 or 15 pounds for at least six weeks.
Lifestyle Changes
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The two greatest potential complications that may occur after undergoing a prostatectomy are erectile dysfunction and incontinence. However, with technological and medical improvements these effects may only be temporary. Learning to use muscle control to avoid bladder accidents is fairly easy and most men regain full control of their bladder within a few months. You may experience problems with erectile dysfunction for the first few months after surgery but it may only be temporary. If you continue to have problems achieving an erection talk to your doctor about treatments such as Viagra. Eating well and receiving proper nutrition after surgery will help you feel better, lower your risk of infection and contribute to faster healing and recovery. An adequate amount of protein is essential for your body to repair tissue and keep your immune system healthy. If you do not get enough protein, your recovery time will be longer and you may experience a higher incidence of infection. Try adding more lean meat, legumes, nuts, dairy and soy foods to increase your protein intake. Fats and oils also are an important part of proper nutrition for recovering cancer patients. Consuming the proper amount of fat will help restore your energy, insulate your body tissues and transport vitamins through the blood. Try to stick with monosaturated fats such as olive and vegetable oils in order to maintain your heart health. You will need to make sure that you are consuming around 64 ounces of water every day to properly hydrate the cells in your body. Exercise is also important to maintaining health so try to begin low-impact exercise as soon as you are able.
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