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Problems With Incontinence After Prostatectomy

After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in America. According to the American Cancer Society, it is diagnosed in roughly one man out of every six. Prostatectomy is an effective form of treatment, but the surgery can have side effects including problems with incontinence.

  1. The Facts

    • Prostatectomy is a surgery performed most often to treat prostate cancer. Your doctor might recommend it if you have stage T1 or T2 prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate itself. While you are under anesthesia, the surgeon will make an incision in your lower abdomen or at your perineum. She removes the prostate along with any other tissue that the cancer might have invaded. A prostatectomy can also be performed laparoscopically.

    Types

    • If you develop a problem with incontinence after your prostatectomy, it could be caused by a couple of different factors. The first is sudden, overpowering urges to urinate caused by spasms in your bladder as it fills. The other is damage to your sphincter muscles, which causes you to lose urine when you cough, sneeze or do physical activity that puts pressure on your bladder. Your incontinence can also be caused by a combination of the two.

    Treatment

    • If you are still having problems with incontinence more than six months after your prostatectomy, your doctor might offer you treatment options. Behavioral modifications like timed voiding and drinking less fluids can help treat incontinence caused by bladder spasms. Medication is also a treatment option. For damaged sphincter muscles, surgical solutions include the implantation of an artificial sphincter or a male sling to support the neck of the bladder.

    Management

    • If you are not a candidate for surgery or medications, your doctor can suggest ways to manage problems with incontinence that after your prostatectomy. Absorbent pads and undergarments are available, as are waterproof mattress pads. Exterior condom catheters can gather urine in a plastic bag. Self-catheterization can be a quick and painless option. Your doctor can help you decide which form of management best suits your symptoms and lifestyle.

    Considerations

    • Problems with incontinence are fairly common for men who have undergone a prostatectomy. According to the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicing, some estimates put the number of men who experience problems at over 80 percent. For many patients, the problem fades as they heal after the procedure. Your doctor might wait as long as twelve months before suggesting a solution such as surgery to make sure the problem does not correct itself.

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