Dr.
Urologist Robert Nam
Oncologists at the Odette Cancer Center in Sunnybrook show in handout photos.
Nam said that before patients make a choice, they must understand all the risks associated with each treatment to maximize their quality of life.
Media Canada/HO-
Toronto-Sunnybrook Photography
For men with prostate cancer, deciding whether to choose a radiotherapy or surgical removal of the prostate may be a daunting prospect, as both have an unpleasant risk
Urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
But a large study suggests that radiation therapy may lead to a higher incidence of other adverse reactions in the years following treatment for local prostate cancer, depending on the age of men and other medical conditions.
The study, published in Thursday's issue of bayonet Oncology, found that men receiving radiation treatment had fewer minimally invasive urological procedures than men who chose surgery.
But over time, the proportion of inpatient, rectal or anal surgery, associated surgery, and secondary cancer in the radiation group was higher.
Chief researcher
Robert Nan, urological oncologist at the Cancer Center in Sunnybrook, Toronto, said that before patients make a choice, they must be aware of all risks associated with each treatment, maximize the quality of their lives.
Some people might say, 'You know?
I can put up with a little leak.
I don't need sex.
These things are over for me, so I will continue (a particular)
South said: "treatment.
"This is usually the logic of their thinking.
"But what the study is saying now is to wait.
Do you want to stay in the hospital all the time?
Do you want to bleed from the bladder all the time or from the rectal?
Do you want a second cancer?
"These are new things that people need to think about.
"To conduct the study, the researchers analyzed hospital and physician management records of 32,465 Ontario men who were treated for localized prostate cancer between 2002 and 2009.
Among them, 15,870 people underwent surgery (median age 62)
And 16,595 have radiotherapy (median age 70).
Nam said that the incidence of these complications in men who chose radiotherapy was two to 10 times higher than in patients who had surgery to remove the prostate.
There are two types of radiation therapy: external irradiation and close-range radiation therapy, including the insertion of radioactive substances into the prostate to achieve more targeted treatment.
Incidence of complications. . .
Very important, "said Nam.
"This has never been described before.
We know this happened.
We know the patient will be taken to hospital.
We know the patients who underwent these procedures after treatment.
But we never know the severity and the numbers.
"We found that as many patients ended up undergoing one of these operations --
Related Complications
"The study also found that 5 to 9 years after treatment, a total of 4.
Compared to one male, the irradiated male had a second type of cancer.
The most common is in the intestinal tract.
Bob Morris, Penetanguishene, Ontario.
Diagnosed with prostate cancer in March 2005 and selected radiation therapy, which is less traumatic than surgery.
At first he had difficulty urinating, but over time he had another side --
The final "very serious" impact.
Morris, 78, said: "It's hard . "
"I went there for several years where I was bleeding, I was on the mainland, and then what happened gathered stones because of the bladder damage.
"He had three or four surgeries, took stones out of his bladder and took antibiotics too many times to count.
"I spent a very bad four years in the hospital and outside the hospital.
I must be arranged.
I had to wear pads.
"Sometimes there is quite a lot of blood," Morris said . " He explained that he often lost his ability to leave the house.
"It continues.
It was four years of pain.
Morris removed the prostate and bladder in August 2010.
He has an inner bag now, himself.
It allows him to resume his favorite outdoor activities, including hunting and fishing. "I feel great.
Morris said: "I am very grateful that I have achieved this in my life. I can work like a normal person . " He thinks he's cancer.
Free radiation treatment.
Nevertheless, after so many difficulties, he said that he would have had surgery if he faced a choice today.
"If I had surgery and removed the prostate, there's a good chance I still have a bladder. "Dr.
Stuart Edmonds of the Prostate Cancer Association of Canada said that the study "highlights the need for men and their families to consider treatment options very carefully as they are aware that each treatment option may increase the risk of certain complications.
"This also highlights some potential deficiencies in the current treatment and the need to continue to improve these treatments to reduce these complications," said Edmonds, deputy chairman of the advocacy group.
President of research, health promotion and survival. Dr.
Tom Pickles, a radiation oncologist at BC Cancer, said he was not surprised by the finding because it is well known that any treatment for prostate cancer has its own complications.
Pickles from Vancouver said: "I told my patients that all treatments have the potential to reduce the quality of life . " He added that the incidence of post-operative erectile dysfunction is higher and bowel problems are more common after radiation.
"A lot of people are hard to choose because the cure rate is very similar and side effects
Although it is an apple and an orange, the effect is similar.
"He doesn't think the study will make it easier for men to choose.
"This strengthens the side effects of all treatments --
Effect and good discussion with urologist and radiation oncologist on these aspects
The effect ahead is part of the decision.
"The production process," Pickles said.
The non-aligned movement agreed with this view and stressed that this study does not mean that surgery is better than radiation therapy, but rather to identify and quantify their complications.
"We did a very good job of treating cancer, (men are)
Problems left over from these types of cancer.
This needs to be part of the discussion with patients.