The possibility of having incontinence as a side effect from all of the primary prostate cancer treatments is significant. Incontinence is not an either or thing as the degree of incontinence varies from individual to individual.
Those men having significant levels of inconvenience find that their quality of life is significantly damaged in some cases to the point that we are unable to live our life. We cannot go to the theater, take an airplane, meet friends or family outside our own home, etc. Life becomes difficult and unhappy.
The most common procedure to combat this level of incontinence is with the surgical implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). An AUS is not perfect, but most men report an improvement in varying degrees. Some experience a complete resolution of the problem while others feel that the process was not meet their expectations.
When reviewing the literature on AUS survival in individuals with a history of primary radiation therapy we find that the results are conflicting. So, researchers at the Mayo Clinic decided to assess AUS survival outcomes among individuals treated at Mayo after prior radiation therapy exposure.
They evaluated men receiving the device who had prior radiation treatment for prostate cancer from 1999 to 2011. They found that:
At a median follow-up of 4.3 years, there were no significant differences in infection, erosion, urethral atrophy, or device survival among the men who had or had not undergone prior radiation therapy.
They concluded that these data suggest that prior pelvic radiation is not an additional risk factor for adverse outcomes after AUS implantation.
Had prostate cancer in 1995 at the age of 50. Elected by recommendation from my urologist to have radiation treatment. All seemed to go well until 2008. My PSA spiked a couple of times from my norm of .10 up to 5.1. Then it would drop back to the normal .1 area for a couple of years and then spike again.
In 2002 I had a penile implant to treat ED. That has worked quite well. In 2004 I developed neuropothy in both feet. It got to the point that I could hardly walk. My GP put me on Neurontin and increased the dose over 2 years up to 1800 mg daily. Now I am at 2400 mg daily.
Bladder cancer was detected 2 years ago. Have had tumors removed from the bladder 3 times in the last two years. Now they say that the BCG treatments that I have been on for the last 9 months is not doing any good. I am being referred to OHSU where I will get some help sometime in the future. Needless to say I am scared and have had very sharp penile pain every time that I urinate since the last tumor was removed 2 weeks ago. I was told that the pain would ease after I took the catheter out, but so far it hasn’t eased up at all. I now have to urinate about every 2 hours and when I feel the slightest feeling that I need to go, I will pee my pants if I can’t get to a toilet within about 10 seconds. Can’t sit around the house all day holding a urinal just in case it is needed as we keep care of 4 granddaughters 3 days each week. Was told that I would get a referral within about 1 week, but so far I haven’t head anything. They tried 2 different antibiotics, but I am allergic to anything with sulfa or penicillin or codine.
My brother who just turned 73 had a double mastectomy 3 months ago. First case in our family that we know of. I was tested and turned out fine.
Sounds as if you have had a rough time. Hope that things get better.
Joel