How do you cope with the side effects of prostate cancer treatment?
Many factors can lead to side effects, including the type of treatment you've had, other health care conditions, risk factors, and age. We want to know the worst side effect(s) for you and how you cope.
always tired , no energy , complete loss of sex , my whole life has changed and not for the better
I know it's tough but when I'm tired or depressed I get moving. Take a walk, exercise, keep moving even though you don't feel like it. It helps. Join a Zoom group like the ones Zero Prostate Cancer offers. Luckily the only side effect I have is leakage. I had my prostate removed and was able to have sex about a month later. Compared to some of everyone’s side effects my are relatively insignificant. I had to overcome the stigma I had about wearing pads and not wearing khaki colored pants very often but you get used to it.
I became severely depressed after realizing I would never have sex again (endangering my marriage) and having to wear adult diapers 24/7. I also had to stop working due to the terrible incontinence.
I decided to get the penile implant for ED as a result of my radical prostatectomy surgery in 2020. After 2 1/2 years and trying pills etc., it became clear to me my natural erections were not coming back. So, I had the surgery, and it's been great. Closest thing to natural function out there. Couple weeks of serious pain and swelling following surgery, but once things healed up, works great and easy to use. You are so right. The implant is the only way to get back in the game.
I was lucky. The major side effect for me was very frequent urination. Other than that, i never noticed much difference. Sex is different but not impossible in my situation. Find a physician that will be honest with you. Better to be alive and different than dead. My brother and I went through this at the same time. Talking helped quite a bit.
Had 45 radiation treatments have some leakage but it is manageable and frequent urination. Sex is different for sure. Physician wasn't very helpful but my cousin and a good friend had the same treatment just about the same time and we have talked through and supported for most of the issues. After living through several more life threatening issues it is not so bad. 
Hi
. Thanks for sharing and good to hear that things are going pretty well. It sounds like it was helpful to have someone you could talk to about the various issues. Permit me this opportunity for those he may not have someone readily available to talk with to post this article from our patient leader Jim on the benefits of support groups: https://prostatecancer.net/living/support-group. Wishing you the best. Richard (Team Member)
I did not have side effects.
Cyber Knife I also had no side effects. I used SBRT.
