Table of Contents

Chapter 3: Maximizing Quality of Life After Initial Treatment

Many men understand that when the prostate cancer is caught early, it can be curable, and that the primary treatment options for localized disease are all excellent choices. However, many men also have significant concerns about the side effects of these treatments. While there is ample justification for these concerns, there are also many misunderstandings about the actual frequency of these side effects, their severity, and what can be done to counteract the occurrence or the management of treatment side effects.

Many of the side effects that men fear most following local treatment are oftentimes less frequent and severe than you might think. As we’ve already noted, technical advances in both surgery and radiation therapy have vastly improved outcomes, and, as we’ll discuss here, researchers have been working hard to find ways that can help to overcome some of these side effects as well.

In this Chapter, we’ll review the statistics to see how often these side effects really occur, and look at some of the ways you might be able to work with your doctor to minimize how these side effects, if they occur, will affect your daily life.