There are various forms of treatment for prostate cancer.
In addition to oncologic outcomes, physicians and increasingly patients are focusing on functional and adverse outcomes. Symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB), including urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence, can occur regardless of treatment modality. This article examines the prevalence, pathophysiology, and options for treatment of OAB after radical prostate cancer treatment. OAB seems to be more common and severe after radiation therapy than surgical therapy and even persisted longer with complications, suggesting an advantage for surgery over radiotherapy. Because OAB that occurs after radical prostate surgery or radiotherapy can be difficult to treat, it is important that patients are made aware of the potential development of OAB during counselling before decisions regarding treatment choice are made. To ensure a successful outcome of both treatments, it is imperative that clinicians and non-specialists enquire about and document pre-treatment urinary symptoms and carefully evaluate post-treatment symptoms.
Written by:
Thiruchelvam N, Cruz F, Kirby M, Tubaro A, Chapple C, Sievert KD. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK.
Reference: BJU Int. 2015 Feb 13. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1111/bju.13078
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25684118