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A negative stigma is often associated
with incontinence,
which can be much worse than the physical condition
itself. Some men would rather stay at home than risk
the embarrassment of having an accident in front of
others. This isolation can be detrimental to overall
health, leading to depression and a complete withdrawal
from social activities. There are management techniques
available that help.
After radical
prostatectomy, radiation
therapy, or cryotherapy
for prostate cancer, some degree of incontinence is
likely to occur. Incontinence is the medical term for
the inability to control urination. More often than
not it is a temporary problem, but for some it can last
for years. Incontinence may get worse over time in patients
who underwent radiation therapy because cells damaged
by radiation cannot repair themselves as well as other
cells can.
In healthy men the bladder is controlled by the urinary sphincter muscles at the bladder neck and below the bladder around the urethra. These muscles can be damaged or weakened from prostate surgery or radiation, resulting in the leakage of urine from the bladder.
There are three main types of incontinence.
Stress
urinary incontinence often occurs
in patients who have received prostate cancer treatment.
This is an involuntary leakage of urine that happens
when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or get up from a seated
position. More than 95% of patients regain continence
fairly quickly after radical prostatectomy. However
it can take up to three years. Two less common types
of incontinence for prostate cancer patients include
urge incontinence, when you
cannot get to the bathroom in time and overflow
incontinence, when proper urine flow is disrupted,
leaving the bladder constantly full.
Incontinence is not a disgraceful
condition. With the right management technique this
physical disorder can be treated and frequently cured.
If you are incontinent, you should see your doctor about
specific treatments that might benefit you. These options
may include medications,
Kegel exercises,
male slings,
condom catheters,
penile clamps,
artificial
urinary sphincters, collagen
injections, and incontinence
undergarments. With these methods you are no longer
subjected to a life in isolation.
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