FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) --
Many Men Underestimate Prostate Surgery Side Effects
New research finds that men who undergo prostate removal often suffer more from incontinence and impotence than they expected, even when counseled beforehand about possible aftereffects.
Removal of the prostate can lead to urinary incontinence, sometimes to the point where men need to wear padding, as well as difficulty attaining and maintaining an erection.
Prostate cancer is also sometimes treated with hormonal therapy, which can also lead to impotence and other serious side effects.
The researchers concluded that patients had "unrealistic expectations" despite the extensive counseling about side effects. They also discovered that a minority of the men (12 to 17 percent) expected to have better bladder control and improved erections after the surgery, which is the opposite of what usually occurs. Many more had thought that their bladder and sexual functioning post-surgery would at least remain the same, they noted.
