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Managing side effects of prostate cancer
The various treatments for prostate cancer may cause a range of side effects, which will vary depending on the treatment and from person to person. You may not experience any of the side effects listed below. In most cases, side effects last for only a few weeks or months, although sometimes they will be permanent. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce or manage side effects.
Learn more about:
- Common side effects
- Erection problems
- Ways to improve erections
- Other changes to sexuality
- Fertility problems
- Restoring your sex life
- Urinary problems
- Other side effects
Common side effects
Prostatectomy | EBRT | Brachytherapy | ADT | |
erection problems | • | • | • | • |
loss of libido | • | • | • | • |
dry orgasm | • | • | • | |
urine leakage during sex | • | |||
infertility | • | • | • | • |
urinary problems | • | • | ||
urinary incontinence | • | |||
bowel problems | • | • | ||
fatigue | • | • | • | |
hot flushes, osteoporosis, heart problems, breast growth, mood swings | • |
Additional resources
Dr Amy Hayden, Radiation Oncologist, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals, and Chair, Faculty of Radiation Genito-Urinary Group (FROGG), The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, NSW; Prof Shomik Sengupta, Professor of Surgery and Deputy Head, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, and Visiting Urologist and Uro-Oncology Lead, Urology Department, Eastern Health, VIC; A/Prof Arun Azad, Medical Oncologist, Urological and Prostate Cancers, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Ken Bezant, Consumer; Dr Marcus Dreosti, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare, and Clinical Strategy Lead, Oncology Australia, SA; A/Prof Nat Lenzo, Nuclear Physician, Specialist in Internal Medicine, Group Clinical Director, GenesisCare Theranostics and The University of Western Australia, WA; Jessica Medd, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Department of Urology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, and HeadwayHealth Clinical and Consulting Psychology Services, NSW; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Western Australia; Graham Rees, Consumer; Kerry Santoro, Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; A/Prof David Smith, Senior Research Fellow, Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council NSW; Matthew Starr, Consumer. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title. This booklet is funded through the generosity of the people of Australia.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
View all publications or call 13 11 20 for free printed copies.
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