How will your life change during prostate cancer treatment?

Posted by Doctor Mai Vien Phuong - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

If you were recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, you probably have a lot of questions. The prospect of talking to your doctor about treatment options can seem overwhelming or stressful.

Not everyone has the same preferences when it comes to treatment. That's why have open, frank discussions before making a decision about the therapy that's right for you. These five questions can help you start the conversation.

As you consider your prostate cancer treatment options, you may want to know more about how your life will change during treatment. There is no simple answer to this question. It is very different for each person.
“Ultimately, depending on the treatment chosen in the joint decision-making process with the patient and physician, the challenges will be quite different,”
How much your daily life may change depends on several factors, including:
Cancer stage : This refers to the size of the tumor and whether it has spread beyond the prostate gland. As cancer cells grow and spread, the cancer becomes more difficult to treat.
The extent of cancer: Tests help your doctor understand certain characteristics of cancer cells, such as how fast they grow. Higher-grade cancers tend to spread faster, while lower-grade cancers tend to grow more slowly.
Treatment plan: Your doctor's treatment advice depends on many considerations, such as your current health, your age, and the stage and extent of the cancer. Some treatments may require you to take time off to recover, while other options - such as active monitoring - may have less of an impact on your life.

Side effects: The most common side effects of prostate cancer treatment are urinary incontinence and problems with sexual function, both of which usually improve with time. Your doctor can help you manage any side effects with strategies such as medications, medical devices, and physical therapy, among others.
Tell your doctor about any concerns or priorities you have. Doctors recommend asking some key questions to better understand how different therapies may affect your daily life and long-term outlook. Consider asking:
What are the potential complications of this treatment? How well is this treatment expected to control the disease? What does quality of life mean for this treatment? What are the potential risks and consequences of a more cautious approach? Knowing what the different treatment options involve can also help prepare you. For example, you can see how much time is available for appointments, in-person therapy, and breaks. You can also ask family members and friends to help with chores like housework and other small chores.
It is important to stay connected with your loved ones and neighbors during treatment. While you may not want to socialize, family and friends can help you maintain a sense of normalcy in your life.

There are many different treatments for prostate cancer, depending on the extent of the disease, your age, medical history, and other factors.
According to therapists, emphasize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. “Based on the prevalence of the disease, there are also many treatment options,” he explains. "For some patients, their priority is related to curing the disease while for others it is related to their quality of life."
The main types of treatment for prostate cancer include:
Active follow-up
If someone has low-risk cancer, doctors note that active follow-up surveillance may be an option. the best. It may be recommended for people with slow-growing cancer or those with other serious health problems.
This method involves monitoring the cancer with regular tests and biopsies. In other words, active surveillance means, “We don't think this disease is an immediate threat. Keep track of it over time. "
Partial prostatectomy
Also known as "concentration therapy," partial prostatectomy focuses on treating only the part of the prostate that is affected by the cancer. aims to free up areas of the prostate that are still healthy
Concentrated therapy is not yet a standard of care for prostate cancer control in the United States, doctors say, researchers say Research at NYU Langone is critically examining the safety and effectiveness of focused therapy techniques to identify suitable candidates for this innovative approach. symptoms are much less common than some other types of treatment.

Radical prostatectomy
The most common surgery for prostate cancer is a radical prostatectomy. This surgery removes the entire prostate gland. In some cases, radiation therapy is also offered.
The authors have described both radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy as “curative interventions”. That means if the cancer is localized in the prostate, a full recovery is possible. The most common problems after treatment are urinary incontinence and problems with sexual function.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is an option for most types of prostate cancer. It works by using ionizing radiation or photons to kill cancer cells. When the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate gland, radiation therapy has a similar success rate to surgery.
Like radical prostatectomy, doctors describe radiation therapy as “treating the entire gland.” That means the entire prostate is targeted.
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy helps to shrink and slow the growth of cancer cells by reducing the level of male hormones in the body, it is often used in combination with radiation therapy.
Hormone therapy may also be used when a person's cancer has spread too far for surgery or radiation to be effective.
For more advanced cases, different types of treatment may be helpful. For example, chemotherapy and biological therapy are among the options for treating late-stage prostate cancer.

The range of side effects you may notice depends on your treatment. It's important to ask your doctor what side effects to watch for and monitor.
At hospitals. Patients receive more information about possible side effects. Physicians should provide patients with detailed expectations day by day, week by week, month by month and state when things may be more urgent.”
If the cancer is localized or locally advanced, some of the potential side effects of the most common treatments include:
Problems with sexual function
Many people with prostate cancer experience must be a change in sexual function. This problem can happen after surgery, radiation, or other therapies.
Side effects related to sexual function are treatable. It is important to talk to your doctor if you have symptoms such as:
Difficulty getting or maintaining a firm erection Difficulty achieving orgasm or discomfort during orgasm Decreased sex drive or desire sexual desire Treatment for these symptoms may include medications, physical devices that can help with erections, surgical implants, or a combination of methods. Sexual function problems can also improve over time as your body recovers
Urinary problems
People who have had a radical prostatectomy may leak urine after surgery . In most cases, this goes away in less than a year. Exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles can make a big difference in regaining urinary control.
Radiation therapy does not usually cause leakage, but it can cause irritation in the area. It can lead to the feeling that you have to pee more often. This side effect usually goes away on its own after treatment ends. Let your doctor know if it continues.

Bowel problems
In rare cases, prostate cancer treatment can cause bowel problems such as diarrhea, soft stools, and rectal bleeding.
However, the rate of bowel problems related to prostate cancer has dropped dramatically since the FDA approved a device called a rectal pad. The device eliminates most of the rectal side effects caused by radiation therapy
Loss of fertility
Anyone treating prostate cancer with surgery, radiation or hormone therapy is likely to lose fertility. During a radical prostatectomy, the seminal vesicles and part of the vas deferens are removed. This interrupts the connection with the testicle.
Radiation also destroys seminal vesicles. Both hormone therapy and chemotherapy also affect sperm production.
In most cases, the loss of fertility is irreversible. Before treatment, your doctor can tell you about options such as sperm freezing. Sperm freezing can give you a better chance of having children in the future.

According to experts, it's hard to know if lifestyle changes will make a lasting difference for people with prostate cancer. Overall, he believes that being physically active and following a balanced diet can have positive effects.
For people who have not been very active in the past, doctors recommend starting an exercise program. When it comes to eating the right foods, his advice aligns with the American Cancer Society's recommendations for a healthy diet. Patients should:
Eliminate processed foods Cut down on red meat Eat more fruits and vegetables It is not necessary to make a drastic change. Even taking small steps to exercise more and eat healthier meals can help you feel more engaged with your health.

No one going through treatment for prostate cancer should feel like they have to deal with it alone. Resources are available, both nationally and internationally, designed to help people with cancer in their treatment and recovery.
Your doctor can recommend a variety of support networks that may be helpful. These can include one-on-one support groups, online forums, and one-on-one consultations with a mental health professional.

Remember: there are no silly questions when it comes to your health. “You have to be very careful that you are making an informed decision,”
It is normal to feel nervous when talking about treatment options and the long-term outlook. Asking your doctor questions and voicing your concerns will help ensure that you have the information you need to feel confident about your choice. It can also help prepare you mentally and physically to begin treatment.
Early cancer screening is considered a perfect measure in the timely detection and treatment of all types of cancer. Vinmec International General Hospital currently has a high-tech cancer screening and examination package, including genetic testing, imaging, and biomarkers for early tumor detection. A single gene test can assess the risk of 16 common cancers in both men and women (lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer) Bowel cancer , stomach cancer , prostate cancer ,....)