Quality of Life
Treatment for early stage prostate cancer is highly effective but in some cases can also be associated with temporary or long-term side effects related to urinary, sexual, or bowel/rectal concerns.
The following links provide detailed information regarding Quality of Life related to these concerns after treatment of Early Stage Prostate Cancer.
Longterm Effects
Quality of Life: Incontinent Urinary Function Problems
Shown below are rates of urinary incontinence persisting 2 years after treatment (magenta) or 6 years after treatment (blue) based on type of treatment.
Quality of Life: Frequency of Urinary Function Problems
Shown below are rates of overall urinary problems persisting 2 years after treatment (magenta) or 6 years after treatment (blue) based on type of treatment.
Quality of Life: Overall Urinary Function
Shown below are rates of urinary incontinence persisting 2 years after treatment (magenta) or 6 years after treatment (blue) based on type of treatment.
Please select a link below to view tables showing sexual outcome at two to five years after treatment of patients by faculty of the BIDMC Prostate Care Center and Faculty of the University of Michigan.
Immediate Sexual Effects
Prostectomy
- Immediate effects on erections (decline)
- Gradual recovery (6 months to 2 years)
- Key factors:
- Age
- Surgical technique: Nerve-sparing
- Prostate size
External Radiation
- Some experience immediate effect, others no effect initially
- Gradual deterioration over ensuing years in some, not all
- Key factors:
- Age
- Use of adjuvant hormone therapy ( interaction with age)
Brachytherapy/Seed Implant
- Some experience immediate effect, others no effect initially
- Gradual deterioration over ensuing years in some, not all
- Key factors:
- Age
- Use of adjuvant hormone therapy
Longterm Sexual Effects
Sexual Function for Patients Less than 50 Years of Age
Sexual outcomes were more favorable for men <50 years of age. Almost all such younger men underwent bilateral nerve-sparing prostatectomy and reported sexual outcome after treatment as follows:
- 73% reported ability to have erections greater than half the time
- 60% reported erections firm enough for intercourse
- 86% reported fair or better orgasm
- 67% reported small or no problem with sexual outcome
- 53% reported no usage of medications or devices to assist erections
The table below shows bowel/rectal function outcomes at two to five years after treatment of patients by faculty of the BIDMC Prostate Care Center and Faculty of the University of Michigan.
