Prostate Cancer and Urinary Symptoms
Prostate cancer involves the prostate gland, from which the ureter flows. The prostate gland is in charge of secreting prostate fluid, which is a part of sperm. Thus, prostate hyperplasia is caused by cancer occluding the urethra, resulting in dysuria and, evidently, outsiders. Gary's prostate cancer is related to his urinary symptoms and both are not only early symptoms of cancer but are also exacerbated by a blockage of cancer growth in the prostate glands. Because of the increased expansion, the urethra pushes against the urethra, creating issues with passing urine such as urinary hesitancy, a defective urine system, or inadequate emptying. Further, from the evidence in Gary’s condition, it proves that cancer affects the urinary system due to the genital difficulties in urinating as a result of the symptoms.
Urinary Problems and Complications
The urinal problem that could have an impact on Gary is the presence of polyuria, which results from incomplete emptying of the urine from the bladder. The condition is caused by the pressure that is exerted to the urethra leading to slow stream of the urine in a dribbling stream manner and not consistent. It happens because of the affected prostate gland pressing urethra and leaving a little space for urine to pass through in the urethra.
However, the condition poses significant threats to the individuals as Gary. The potential complications of prostatectomy include stress, overflow, and urge incontinence.
Complications of Incontinence
Stress incontinence affects men and usually leak urine either when they sneeze, cough, exercise or even when they laugh, which is the most common effect after the prostate surgery. Stress incontinence usually occurs when the internal urinary sphincter dysfunctional, which may take place in prostatectomy when in men, especially after the process of transurethral resection that occurs in the prostate.
Similarly, Overflow incontinence is another condition that affects emptying urine from the bladder. Individuals with the condition usually take a long time in urinating as well as having a forceful dribbling stream. It is commonly caused by the narrowness or a bladder that is blocked by the scar tissue.
Another complication of incontinence, urge incontinence, is the sudden need to urinate and happens because the mechanoreceptors are weak and too sensitive to stretching when filled with urine. It can occur when central nervous systems are destroyed due to diseases such as Parkinson and other infections. In general, the condition of incontinence is a continuous effect that causes individuals to lose their ability to control urine after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer. That is as a result of time taken so as the bladder can regain the original normality after surgery. However, it is hard to predict the incidence since it depends mostly on the age of individuals. The condition is treatable even if it can not be corrected fully.
Effect of Brachytherapy on Urinary System
Brachytherapy for prostatic neoplasia involves introducing a sealed source of radiation in the prostate. A low dose is administered to inhibit cancer growth while a high dose is added over a short period to kill the surrounding tissue. The side effects of brachytherapy to the urinary system vary immediately from the surgery to long-term conditions. The quick ones that can be felt are the pain of bruises and slight bleeding in the urine. However, brachytherapy affects the urinal systems in various ways.
It causes a condition known as the stress of urinal incontinence that causes a leak of the urine in the situations where individual exerts pressure such as sneezing. Further, prostate cancer has an effect of blocking tubes that carry urine to the ureter. Thus, it affects the operation of the kidney by retaining the excess production of urine in the bladder that is not completely emptied from the body causing kidney problems. That is because the role of the kidney is to produce urine by removing waste products from the body. Therefore, there will be an increase in urination.
However, as much as brachytherapy helps there can be some effects related to it. Like for the case of Gary, he may feel a burning feeling while urinating because of the seed implant that is usually not there in a normal renal system. In the normal renal system peeing is smooth, but after the brachytherapy, it might become challenging, and Grey might experience mild pain or difficulty when starting or end urine as well as emptying the bladder becomes hard.
Androgen-Deprivation Therapy and Fertility
The Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), which exists as a medical or surgical castration is among the best alternatives in treating prostate cancer. The clinical benefit of this drug for men is living free from the symptoms known as metastases over a long time. Alternatively, it adversely affects the fertility of the male upon usage in various ways. It affects the sexual desire, functioning regarding erection, ability to achieve organism among others (Jones, Kohli, & Loprinzi, 2012). These effects differ depending the period of the usage of ADT such as in short term when using adjuvant in the external radiation therapy that may not cause the sexual dysfunction of a man. However, the short-term application is not exempted in dysfunction sexually since it can begin in the period of two months. Additionally, the level of testosterone may as well be recovered. Thus, Gary will be forced to be sterile when he undergo a long-term treatment option otherwise the short term may be temporary and achievable to be fertile after some time.
Alternatively, prostatectomy also has adverse effects on the fertility of men. That is because cancer that involves genital organs needs surgery and other treatment forms, which poses adverse consequences regarding fertility. Prostatectomy requires the removal of prostate glands that blocks the pathway of semen thus, the process of ejaculation cannot be achieved leading to automatic infertility. Therefore, it would be difficult for Gary to have children when he undergoes for this treatment option unless he consults the doctor to extract sperms from the tissues.
References
Hart, P. A., Smyrk, T. C., & Chari, S. T. (2013). IgG4‐related prostatitis: A rare cause of steroid‐responsive obstructive urinary symptoms. International Journal of Urology, 20(1), 132-134.
Jones, J. M., Kohli, M., & Loprinzi, C. L. (2012). Androgen deprivation therapy-associated vasomotor symptoms. Asian Journal of Andrology, 14(2), 193-197.
