In America, every eight out of ten elderly individuals and ten out of a thousand middle-aged and young adults suffer from incontinence issues. Several reasons result in incontinence issues at a young age, and there is no taboo here. There is a range of incontinence supplies such as adult diapers, bed pads, and waterproof briefs that come to the rescue of the sufferers.
What is Prostate Cancer?
As the name suggests, this is a form of cancer occurring in a small walnut-shaped gland that produces seminal fluids in a male body. These fluids nurture and transport sperm. Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in American males, and almost 47,000 men annually are detected to suffer from this.
Prostate cancer occurs in two ways. In some cases, it is confined to the prostate gland and develops slowly, and does not cause any serious harm. However, in the second type, cancer develops aggressively and spreads quickly, necessitating a quick surgery.
If the cancer is detected at an early stage when it is confined solely to the prostate gland, the chances of successful treatment are high.
Signs
At an early stage, prostate cancer may or may not show any signs. However, at a later stage, all or some of the following symptoms can be seen –
Urinating problems
Reduced power in the urine stream
Urine fused with blood
Semen fused with blood
Pain in the bone
Unexplained weight loss
Erectile dysfunction
If you observe any of these symptoms, connect with a doctor immediately.
Why does prostate cancer surgery lead to incontinence issues?
It is important to understand male anatomy first to understand why prostate cancer surgery leads to incontinence issues, even in younger men who are forced to use diapers for adults.
There is an internal urethral sphincter and an external urinary sphincter that work together to keep men continent. The former is located at the bottom of the bladder and is removed at prostate surgery as it is impossible to remove the prostate without dealing with this urethral sphincter. On the other hand, the external one is the muscle men use to stop the flow of urine while peeing. To remain continent, the external sphincter is alone enough, but damage or dysfunction to this one can be caused due to the radiation received during the surgery. This obstructs the complete recovery of the bladder, causing it to force urine out.
Type of Male Incontinence after Surgery
Prostate surgery can result in the following two types of male incontinence –
Urgency Incontinence
In this incontinence, the sufferer feels a sudden urge to pee but cannot make it to the toilet on time.
Stress Incontinence
There is a urine leak in case of exertion, coughing, sneezing, a shift in seating positions, or while exercising.
Is the incontinence issue after prostate surgery common?
No, not every man who has undergone prostate surgery suffers from incontinence issues later as an after-effect. However, it would be best to prepare yourself, as most men suffer from incontinence problems after this surgery. Some come out of it within a few months, while others need more time, but incontinence issues are a common plight after prostate surgery.
Adult diapers and other incontinence supplies
Medical development has made human life easier, and incontinence issues are no exception. There is an eclectic range of supplies such as diapers, incontinence briefs specifically designed according to gender needs, and waterproof bed pads for adults. These supplies play a major role in normalizing and circumventing the stress related to incontinence issues. You can choose any of these supplies according to the incontinence issue you face. If you experience light flow, you can go for diapers. If you want something to last for longer hours, waterproof briefs can help you. Waterproof bed pads for adults can get you sorted when you want to protect the surface, such as the mattress, or a chair, or a couch you are relaxing on.
More importantly, do not let the incontinence issues following the prostate surgery defeat your morale. You have survived cancer; you are a survivor!
