Side Effects From Treatment, an Overview
Patients in Sky are still frequently advised to have treatment. It behooves them, therefore, to learn about treatment-related side effects. Unlike the other Stages of Blue, men in Sky have a choice—the option of postponing treatment by pursuing active surveillance. Therefore, shedding light on treatment-related side effects is just as important as talking about cure rates. Due to fears about monitoring cancer, patients should continually remind themselves that Low-Risk prostate cancer is harmless and never spreads. Men contemplating prostate cancer treatment need to consider another defining characteristic of prostate cancer—the precarious anatomic location of the prostate deep in the lower portion of the pelvis, positioned -- within millimeters-- of the bladder, the rectum, and the nerves that control erections. Treatment to the prostate, even when administered by world-class experts, commonly damages these closely situated and sensitive structures, often permanently. Patients tend to underestimate the potential side effects of surgery or radiation. An essential part of the educational process for men who are newly diagnosed is learning about the consequences that often arise after surgery or radiation.
Mark Scholz, MD is the Executive Director of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute. He is also the Medical Director of Prostate Oncology Specialists Inc. He received his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Dr. Scholz completed his Internal Medicine internship and Medical Oncology fellowship at University of Southern California Medical Center. He is co-author of Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers. He has authored over 20 scientific publications related to the treatment of prostate cancer.