CAREGIVER GUIDE
Treatment and Side Effects Learning about all treatment options, including clinical trials, is important before deciding on a treatment. Treatment decisions should be based on many factors, including the patient’s age, overall health, family history, stage at diagnosis, aggressiveness of the disease, and results of genetic testing, among others. In addition, it is important that you and the patient both understand possible side effects of each treatment, how side effects can be managed, and weigh quality of life issues into the treatment decision process. Side effects related to prostate cancer treatments vary by the type of treatment received. Some common side effects of treatment are urinary incontinence (the inability to control your bladder) and erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve a full erection). Other side effects can include fatigue, depression, and infertility. Some of these potential changes can impact the patient’s self-esteem and personal relationships. Therefore, it is important for you to be an active participant in the conversations with your loved one and their doctors about potential side effects of treatment. Once the course of treatment is determined, your loved one’s doctors should work on a plan to manage any side effects they might experience. As treatment progresses and after it is completed, it is important to bring up any concerns with prolonged side effects with doctors.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
TREATMENT
WHAT IT DOES
Removes the cancerous tissues and the prostate
Urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction (ED), and infertility ED, hot flashes, mood changes, loss of libido, depression, cardiovascular events, and bone loss ED, increased urinary urgency and frequency, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and discomfort during urination and bowel movement Fever, chills, fatigue, and joint or body ache Nausea, fatigue, anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, headache Low grade fever, tingling around mouth or hand cramps from low calcium, dental pains Hair loss, fragile bones, nausea, and nervous system disorders like confusion, depression, or headaches
Surgery
Hormone Therapy Minimizes presence of androgens which fuel prostate cancer growth
Slows prostate cancer cell growth by targeting cells externally or by injection
Radiation
Changes the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells
Immunotherapy
Targeted Therapy Targets a particular protein or genetic mutation in the tumor
Inhibits bone loss and fractures and relieves pain from prostate cancer in the bone Targets cancer cells that grow quickly including cancer cells metastasized to the bone
Bone-Related Treatments
Chemotherapy
ZEROCANCER.ORG
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