Side effects are common to the prostate cancer patients. These are the results of some variety of treatments the patients are undergoing to prevent the spreading of the cancer cells. Though, there are some side effects in the prostate cancer patients that appears from the cancer itself. It is good to understand these side effects to help the patients in relieving their fears and coping up with the disease better.

Impotence (incapability to achieve or keep an erection) – this is the foremost side effect of the treatments for advanced prostate cancers. Almost 90% of men who undergoes the orchiectomy or the process of removing testicles via surgery are experiencing impotence. Hormonal therapy or drugs reducing testosterone level can as well cause impotence. Without any assistance, some patients recover their erections in no time at all, but others have resulted to treatments ranging from oral medications, medicines injected to the penis or even penis implants. Everything must be discussed with the doctor prior to having a treatment resulting to impotence.

Incontinence (incapability in controlling the urine flow) – this is a usual side effect of cancer surgery and prostate cancer radiations therapy. With this case, nearly all patients in the long run will actually get back their urinary control. Kegel exercises will help you fortify the sphincter along with the nearby pelvis muscles to help you recover urinary control. Biofeedback and medications can as well relieve incontinence, but most importantly, discuss with the physician everything about this matter.

Infertility – It is proven that most of the treatments for prostate cancer will result to infertility. There are several techniques to defend fertility but it should be done prior to any cancer treatments. This side effect must be tackled with your doctor before you submit yourself with the treatment process.

Prostate cancer pains and weakening of bones – this is the result of bone metastasis, where in the cancer has spread out to the bones. This condition will result to pains and weakens the bone that makes you prone into bone-fractures. Doctors can give treatments to relieve this type of side effect that weakens the bone and causing painful feelings.

Bisphosphonates to strengthen bones – this drug can help lessen or interrupt problems such as fracture caused by bone metastasis of the tumor. Researchers now explore the risk of using a new bisphosphonate Zometa, to avoid the growth and succession of bone metastasis in prostate cancer.

Everyone is at risk to develop skin cancer. Recent publication of new research has raised concern about those of us who spend a great deal of our time outside in the sun for fun or work. Dr. Darrell Rigel of New York University looked at a select group of adults with out door summer jobs three years in a row.

Risk factors that the study identified were:

1. An outdoor summer job.
2. History of blistering sunburn
3. Having naturally red or blond hair
4. Freckling of the upper back
5. Personal history of previous melanoma
6. History of actinic keratosis

The study participants were 18 to 70 years of age, a good sampling across a broad range. Having fair skin or a past history of two or more episodes of blistering sunburn confirm our previous understanding of how those innocent events lead to greater risk of skin cancer. Actinic keratosis is a form of sun damaged skin that can be a precancerous condition. The skin remembers or accumulates sun damage over a lifetime in many small installments. The average lifetime risk of developing a melanoma is relatively low at 1.5%.

Having even one of these risk factors increased the odds by more than twice to 3-5%. Dr Rigel’s study actually looked at over 40 risk factors but these six were the only ones that correlated closely with more frequent skin cancer. An interesting note is that age alone without a history of excessive sun exposure was not a risk factor. Editorial comments by Dr Rigel summarized that the real risks are simply “genetic susceptibility and exposure to ultraviolet light”.

These findings emphasize the need for preventive measures when spending time outdoors. Liberal and frequent use of sunscreens and appropriate clothing to minimize the damaging effects of excessive sun exposure is critical. In the future there may be other more sophisticated ways to decrease our susceptibility. For now basic common sense and consistent use of inexpensive tools like sunscreens and sun block can make the difference in a life free of skin cancer.