The Risks Behind Prostate Cancer Surgery

It certainly isn't an understatement to say that there's a lot of fear surrounding cancer. So, there should be no wonder as to why many prostate cancer sufferers are quick to agree to whatever treatment options are available to them. One of these options is prostate cancer surgery. On the surface it seems like a perfect treatment for sufferers; it's fast and it removes the source of the problem... the infected prostate. Yet, what are the risks behind surgery? Many sufferers go on the operating table without knowing the risks, then get overwhelmed if the worst does happen to them. Well, before you consider such procedures, continue reading on to discover all of the risks behind prostate cancer surgery.

1. Pain

Pain is one of the most obvious problem caused by surgery. This is because all surgical procedures, even the most basic will be somewhat painful. Granted, the doctors and nurses will provide morphine or other painkillers, but these are only but so effective. There will be periods where you will just have to feel the discomfort, and it will be far from pleasant.

2. Risks of Anesthesia

When it comes to the risks behind prostate cancer surgery, many may not even think of anesthesia. But anesthesia can carry complications, with the most major being blood clots, heart attack or a stroke. Granted, these complications tend to be rare, but still need to be thought about since they do happen.

3. Bleeding

Excessive bleeding is another one of the risks that you need to know about. Prostate cancer surgery is especially prone to such a risk because the prostate gland contains many blood vessels. If a person bleeds too much, they may need to get a blood transfusion, a process that carries even more risks, despite how routine it is.

4. Incontinence

Incontinence is one of the risks of surgery because the procedure negatively interferes with the muscles that control urinary flow. Incontinence can cause urine to leak when a man coughs or laughs and/or it can result in an excessive urinary urges along with an abnormal flow.

5. Impotence

One of the risks behind prostate surgery that negatively affects a man's romantic/sexual health is impotence. This occurs because the procedure damages or removes nerves that are vital for arousal. However, usually the body can regenerate these nerves after a few months, though for some men it may take up to two years before they regain normal erectile functioning.

6. Penis Shrinkage

Penis shrinkage that is strange yet potentially devastating for some men. Many patients notice a 15 percent decrease in the length of their genitalia after undergoing prostate cancer surgery.

7. Sterility

Lastly, prostate cancer surgery can make a man permanently sterile, since the procedure cuts the vessels between the urethra and the testicles. Although the man can technically still produce sperm, he will not be able to ejaculate it since the connection has been severed.

You can learn more about prostate cancer as well as the symptoms of prostate cancer on my website http://www.SymptomsOfProstateCancer.info - My website includes a whole range of articles focusing on the problems caused by prostate cancer, treatments and of course what you should do if you think you have prostate cancer.