Side Effects From Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer, known as androgen deprivation therapy , suppresses production of testosterone. ADT can cause several side effects. These include fatigue, hot flashes, decreased bone density, ED, depressed mood, decreased sex drive, weight gain, heart risks, breast growth and cognitive decline.
The severity and length of side effects depend on how long treatment lasts. âIf a man has only six months of treatment, their level of testosterone rises again, and theyâll go back to feeling like themselves,â Calvaresi said.
Often, mood changes in men on ADT are caused by other side effects such as weight gain and hot flashes. âIf we can manage those other side effects, then often that improves mood,â she said. Following a healthy diet and exercising regularly often helps to decrease fatigue, prevent weight gain and improve overall mood. Before beginning hormone therapy, you should discuss the effects of ADT with your doctor, and talk about how you can change your exercise and eating habits to help head off side effects before they occur.
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When Should I Call My Doctor
You should call your doctor if you have:
- No urine flows into your collection bag over a period of four hours and your catheter is not kinked
- No urine flows into your bag over a couple of hours, and you feel like your bladder is full
You should also call your doctor if you have:
- A fever over 101° F or chills
- Pain or a burning sensation in your urethra, bladder, abdomen, or lower back
- Blood, mucus, pus, or foul smelling drainage around your catheter
- Urine leaking around your catheter
- Urine that becomes cloudy or foul smelling
- Urine that has mucus, red specks, or blood in it. Urine with blood in it may appear pink or red
- Any symptoms that you are concerned about
- Any other warning signs mentioned by your doctor or health care team
If you have any of these signs talk to your doctor or health care team. There are medicines and treatments that can help you feel better. It is important that you talk to your doctor or health care team about any side effects you may have during or after your treatment. Your health care team can help treat these problems.
What Is An Enlarged Prostate
At birth, the prostate gland is tiny. When testosterone levels rise during puberty, the prostate grows rapidly, doubling in size by age 20. Growth slows down for the next two decades and the prostate usually does not cause problems for many years. Less than 10% of 30-year-old men have an enlarged prostate. When a man reaches his 40s, the prostate goes through a second growth spurt. Half of all men have an enlarged prostate by the time they reach age 60, and by age 85, 90% of men have an enlarged prostate.
The prostate surrounds the tube that carries urine from the bladder . During puberty, the prostate expands evenly. The enlargement that occurs in the second half of life, however, is concentrated in the part of the gland next to the urethra. As the gland gets bigger, it interferes with the flow of urine out of the bladder. That makes the bladder work harder to empty urine. Over time, the problem worsens, and eventually not all the urine can be emptied. The bladder wall also may become thickened, which can result in muscle spasms.
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What Is Prostate Cancer
The urethra passes through the middle of the prostate. Because of the proximity of the prostate to the urethra and reproductive organs, prostate cancer may cause symptoms affecting urination and sexual activity.
The symptoms of prostate cancer may be different for each man, and any one of these symptoms may be caused by other conditions such as prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia. As a result, routine screenings in the form of digital rectal exams and prostate-specific androgen tests are vital.
This article will cover:
What You Can Do
Its important that you learn all you can about advanced prostate cancer so you can make informed decisions. Be open with your doctors and others on your healthcare team. Express your concerns and feel free to advocate for yourself and your quality of life. Get another medical opinion if you feel its necessary.
Some complementary therapies may prove helpful in coping with advanced cancer. For example:
- tai chi, yoga, or other movement therapy
- meditation, breathing exercises, or other relaxation techniques
A variety of services can help you with everything from lodging while youre getting treatment to getting some help around the house. Communicating with online or in-person groups are a good way to share information and lend mutual support.
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How Long Does It Take For Radiation Side Effects To Go Away
The general effects of radiation therapy like fatigue, nausea, and headaches resolve fairly quickly after treatment. Your body just needs time to process the radiation but can recover within a few weeks.
Delayed side effects of radiation therapy, on the other hand, may require further treatment to alleviate. Its important to use an ongoing therapy like hyperbaric oxygen therapy to enhance the bodys healing response and optimize the bodys response to radiation damage. Without additional care, some radiation side effects like burns and inflammation can morph into chronic, non-healing wounds that trigger additional health complications.
What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer symptoms do not usually manifest themselves in the early stages of the disease. Less than five percent of men with prostate cancer show early urinary symptoms. The condition has usually progressed to later stages when prostate cancer symptoms do arise.
Some men may experience symptoms that can indicate the presence of prostate cancer. Others may find out during a routine check-up, a blood test, or a rectal exam with their doctor. Because the symptoms of prostate cancer are similar to other symptoms patients, will need to go through further testing to determine whether they actually have prostate cancer.
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Radiation Cystitis Causing Hematuria
Less common but challenging to treat is what we call radiation cystitis. This occurs in 1-2% of men after radiation treatment to the pelvis all the prostate. The bladder and the prostate become friable and bleed easily. Hematuria as a result of radiation cystitis typically occurs many years after treatment. A number of treatment options available, including fulguration, intravesical instillations, medical treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment has been shown to be beneficial for men with persistent intermittent hematuria.
If you experience blood in urine before, after, or during treatment for prostate cancer, urological evaluation should be sought.
How Do I Fix Problems With My Urinary Catheter
If you see that your catheter is not draining urine, check the following:
- Is the urine tubing twisted or bent? If it is, straighten out the tubing.
- Are you lying on the catheter tubing? If you are, move the tubing.
- Is the urine collection bag below the level of your bladder ? If it isnt, lower the level of the urine collection bag until it is below the level of your bladder . If your urine is still not draining, call your doctor or health care team right away.
If your catheter is leaking:
- Place a towel or waterproof pad under you to protect your furniture.
- You may wrap gauze around the catheter where it enters your body if you have drainage or leakage. Make sure to change the gauze when it feels wet. It is ok if your catheter leaks a little. If you begin to leak a large amount of urine, call your doctor or health care team. If your catheter comes out, call your doctor or health care team right away.
Plan For Fixing Problems With Your Urinary Catheter
- What can you do if no urine is draining into your urine collection bag?
- What can you do if your catheter is leaking?
- If you have a problem with your catheter, when should you call your doctor or health care team?
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Eating Diet And Nutrition
Researchers have not found that eating, diet, and nutrition play a role in causing or preventing prostatitis. During treatment of bacterial prostatitis, urologists may recommend increasing intake of liquids and avoiding or reducing intake of substances that irritate the bladder. Men should talk with a health care provider or dietitian about what diet is right for them.
What Will Happen After Treatment
Youll be glad when treatment is over. But its hard not to worry about cancer coming back. When cancer comes back it is called a recurrence. Even when cancer never comes back, people still worry about it. For years after treatment ends, you will see your cancer doctor. At first, your visits may be every few months. Then, the longer youre cancer-free, the less often the visits are needed.
Be sure to go to all follow-up visits. Your doctors will ask about your symptoms, examine you, and might order blood tests and maybe other tests to see if the cancer has come back.
Having cancer and dealing with treatment can be hard, but it can also be a time to look at your life in new ways. You might be thinking about how to improve your health. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 or talk to your doctor to find out what you can do to feel better.
You cant change the fact that you have cancer. What you can change is how you live the rest of your life, making healthy choices and feeling as good as you can.
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Blood In Urine: Symptoms Causes And Treatment
One of the most stressful experiences in life is to suddenly be confronted with a new health problem we hadnt even considered before. Its especially true when its related to something we do every day for our entire lives. You move along with your life as usual, not even thinking about something as seemingly innocuous as using the bathroom. And then one day you look down in the toilet and see bloody urine.
Its perfectly natural to feel some panic set in as you stare into the toilet, wondering if that really is blood in the urine or just some trick of the light. Or maybe some other reason that could explain what you see. Most people will immediately run to the internet to frantically search: what causes blood in urine?
The term for the presence of blood in urine is hematuria, and there are many possible reasons why you might be experiencing this ailment. For that reason, its important to understand the causes and potential related symptoms for your own peace of mind and to give you a sense of when its time to talk to your doctor.
Signs You Might Have Prostate Cancer And What You Should Do
HealthDay
Prostate cancer is a serious disease that affects men typically over the age of 50. Its important to be able to recognize the signs of this potentially deadly cancer so you can take the necessary steps to monitor and treat it. Here are some of the common warning signs of prostate cancer.
The top three:
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Symptomatic treatment of an enlarged prostate usually involves a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may be the best option if you suffer from chronic urination. It will help the body adjust to the increased size of the prostate. Also, taking regular urination intervals will help retrain the bladder to function properly. Inactivity also contributes to urine retention, and cold temperatures can increase the urge to urinate.
Invasive treatment of enlarged prostate includes medication that relieves the pressure on the urethra and bladder. However, if the condition is severe, it may require surgical intervention. If treatment is not successful, the enlarged prostate can become a potentially life-threatening disease. As the hormone levels in the body change, the enlarged prostate can lead to various complications, including urinary retention and even cancer. This is why it is critical to see a doctor for further evaluation.
How Do I Use A Night Drainage Bag
The night drainage bag is larger than the leg bag and holds more urine. It is made to hang on the side of a bed or chair, or to be attached to any loose-fitting pants . The drainage bag may have hooks to fasten to your bed frame. If you are using a safety pin to fasten the catheter to your bed sheet or your clothing, make sure the safety pin goes around the catheter tube and not through it. Leave some slack in the tube so the catheter will not be pulled when you move your leg. You need to keep your urine collection bag below the level of your bladder. Whenever you are spending a lot of time lying down or sitting still, the night bag will work better. The night bag should always be used at night while you are sleeping. Do not put the bag on the floor. Before you go to sleep at night, you should change your leg bag to a night drainage bag.
To use a night drainage bag:
To empty the night drainage bag:
When you aren’t using your night bag, it should be washed out with soap and water and hung up to dry. This should be done once a day.
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Causes Of Blood In Urine
Blood in urine can come from a variety of conditions as result of irritation, infection, tumor, or injury in any part of the urinary tract. Blood in the urine is itself a symptom of another condition. Some causes include:
- Urinary tract infection or bladder infection: Bladder and urinary tract infections can cause pain or burning with urination, along with frequent urination. Infants and children may also have a fever, lose their appetite and be fussy.
- Enlarged prostate from benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer: Either of these conditions can cause blood in the urine because they are accompanied by an enlarged prostate. The enlarged prostate can press on the urethra, which can cause bladder irritation.
- Kidney infections : Kidney infections are serious. Their symptoms are like urinary tract infections, but may also include chills, fever and pain in the lower back below the ribs .
- Kidney diseases: Kidney diseases are less common but also very serious. Symptoms of kidney disease may include high blood pressure, weakness and swelling throughout the body. Protein in the urine is often present.
- Urinary Calculi: Ureteral, kidney, and bladder stones: These are common, and their symptoms usually include severe pain in the groin, pelvis, back or abdomen.
Other causes of blood in urine may include an injury to the kidney from sports or an accident, inherited diseases such as sickle cell anemia, a tumor in the urinary tract, or certain medications.
What Tests Find Causes For Blood In The Urine
Your urologist will likely examine your upper urinary tract using a scan with dye that gives images from your kidneys to your bladder. This can check for stones, tumors or other abnormalities.
He or she will check the lower urinary tract with a scope that looks at the bladder, prostate and urethra. Your doctor also may perform other tests, such as a test for prostate cancer, as needed.
Sometimes doctors find that hematuria shows up in routine testing. A sample taken during an annual physical may find blood that isnt visible. When this happens, your doctor will send the sample to a lab to check for red blood cells.
Dr. Abouassaly stresses the importance of getting in to see your physician if you see even a trace of blood in your urine.
Cancers can bleed just one time and not again, he says. If you have doubts, a quick visit to your primary care provider can sort it out.
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Prostate Cancer Caregiver Podcast Series
We are proud to announce a new podcast series geared toward helping give support, hope and guidance to prostate cancer caregivers. The goal of this Prostate Cancer Caregiver Podcast Series is to help others connect with a diverse group of people who have felt the impact of prostate cancer in their lives and empower them on their journey.
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Blood That You Cant See
Sometimes there is blood in your urine that you canât see. This is called microscopic hematuria because it is only visible under a microscope. âGuidelines state that any more than three red blood cells in a urine sample under microscope should prompt a referral to a urologist,â Dr. Bakare says. Routine urine tests can be part of annual wellness exams.
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What Will I Learn By Reading This
When you have prostate cancer you may need a urinary catheter to help your bladder or urethra heal or to help lessen the side effects from treatment. It is very common for men with prostate cancer to need a urinary catheter at some point during or after their treatment. In this booklet you will learn about the following:
- What a urinary catheter is
- Why you may need a urinary catheter
- What are the different kinds of urine collection bags
- What are some possible side effects of a urinary catheter
- How you can take care of yourself when you have a urinary catheter
It is important for you to think about and plan how you will take care of yourself before and after your prostate cancer treatment so that you can keep doing as many of your normal activities as possible.