Three Questions About Prostate Cancer Answered

Have you been feeling lethargic and listless? Concerned about lack of energy?

You may go to the doctor searching for a depression diagnosis or a testosterone issue. But the real culprit may lie in a small gland in the male genitalia system. It is called the prostate and damage to it may affect to you.

The prostate makes and stores seminal fluid, the milky substance that protects sperm when the male ejaculates. It surrounds the urethra, which is a tube that carries urine and semen through the penis to discharge.

Unfortunately, there are issues with the prostate that develop when a man grows older. One of these issues is prostate cancer.

You may feel tired and listless. You may get that initial diagnosis of prostate cancer. But what is it? Why is it challenging and what are the treatment options for prostate cancer? Can a person have a sex life after treatment of prostate cancer? These are some of the many questions a person may ask when first diagnosed.

That’s why we’re here to help. Here are three answers to important questions about prostate cancer.

Treating Prostate Cancer: Two Avenues

Avenue 1: Surgery

Sometimes prostate cancer is diagnosed early. The cancerous cells have not spread to organs or bones. The cancerous cells are localized in the prostate or the genitalia system. In this case, surgery can remove the cancerous cells.

Avenue 2: Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is often used at many stages, from early, localized cancerous cells to widespread cancer that has spread to the bones and organs. Radiation therapy attacks cancerous cells by poisoning them.

Unfortunately, some radiation therapy causes damage to other, healthy cells. However, there is a new kind of radiation therapy called proton therapy that targets specific parts of the tissue. It doesn’t damage surrounding cells. It is an effective treatment against prostate cancer, curing up to 99% of low-intensity cases.

There were more than 30 particle centers in 2015 and more were being made. A prostate cancer specialist will walk you through treatments and help you find the one that is best for you.

Prostate cancer treatment also involves hormone therapy when the cancerous cells have spread.

Survival Rate

You will likely wonder when first diagnosed: What is the survival rate for those diagnosed? The answer is encouraging: Most men, overwhelmingly, survive prostate cancer.

Here are some raw statistics for prostate cancer:

• In 2018, it is estimated over 160,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• 92% of cases are found when the cancer is still localized to the prostate and nearby organs.
• The five year survival rate for men with localized prostate cancer is nearly 100%, while 98% of men live ten years or longer.
• Around 26,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year.
• It is the third leading cancer causing death for men in America.
• The death rate is twice as high in black men than in any other group.

Prostate cancer is treatable. Catching it early is key.

Can I Have Sex After Treatment

The answer is, yes and no.

If surgery is required, removing the prostate will remove the gland that produces semen. If radiation therapy is required, the radiation may affect the glands and functions of the genital system.

It may be hard to have sex but some believe it is not entirely impossible. According to sources, it just takes work and time, which may be frustrating for both partners in a relationship.

Here are some factors that affect how difficult sex will be after prostate cancer treatment:

The type of treatment or whether one or more of the nerve bundles has been removed or damaged.

Whether a man had erectile dysfunction issues prior to treatment.

The older a man gets, the harder it is to sustain an erection. The age of a man influences his staying power even before prostate cancer treatment.

A prostate cancer specialist will likely work with patients to determine the best fit for their lifestyle. Finding the right prostate cancer specialist may lengthen the amount of time a man can sustain his erection.

That should answer some of the questions you have about prostate cancer. Being diagnosed is a shocking and sudden event. It is important to find the right prostate cancer specialist to guide you through the process.