One side effect of many prostate cancer treatment options is possible incontinence. Removing the prostate through surgery or weakening it during external beam radiation disrupts the way urine is held in the bladder- resulting in leakage (incontinence). What is the impact on incontinence after brachytherapy?
Dr. Brian Moran of the Chicago Prostate Cancer Center recently sat with four prostate cancer survivors who were treated using Cesium-131 brachytherapy to discuss their experience, or lack thereof, with incontinence following their procedure.
Norm had an advanced cancer and was treated with brachytherapy seeds, external beam radiation, and hormone therapy. “The only side effect I had following my procedure was fatigue, and that could have been due to the anti-androgens or external beam,” says Norm. “My wife would love to have my bladder because she is the one usually searching for a bathroom.
