Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer for men, and nearly one in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, if detected early, the 5-year survival rate is nearly 100%, underscoring the importance of early screenings.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is a small walnut-sized gland located just below the bladder, and it functions primarily to add fluid to semen. The urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body, travels through the center of the prostate.
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms of prostate dysfunction include frequent urination during waking and/or sleeping hours, pain with urination, pain or stiffness in the lower back or upper thighs, disrupted urine stream, straining to urinate, and more. However, Johns Hopkins Medicine estimates about 85% of cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed before any observed symptoms, so being proactive in your health is important.
How do we screen for prostate cancer?
To anyone out there avoiding a checkup on their prostate health due to a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE), fear not! While physicians may continue to use DREs as part of a comprehensive screen, modern medical recommendations all highlight the importance of a much more accurate test for prostate cancer: the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Elevated levels of PSA may indicate cancer, and if detected, your physician will then likely perform a biopsy to confirm a cancerous diagnosis.
What about treatments?
There are a variety of treatment options available for prostate cancer, including surveillance, radiation options, and prostatectomy. Again, if detected early, prostate cancer has an excellent 5-year survival rate, so these treatments are widely successful.
However, it is to be noted that many treatments for prostate cancer may bring on symptoms of urinary incontinence. Most men will experience urinary incontinence for the first 1-2 months after a prostatectomy, and up to 30% may still have issues with incontinence 1 year after surgery. These urinary issues can have a large impact on quality of life for many men, but physical therapy may be the unexpected help you need!
How can PT Help?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized form of PT focusing on all things in and around the pelvis (including the prostate, bladder, and pelvic floor muscles — the bowl of muscles at the bottom of your pelvis in which all of those organs rest). The urethra also travels through the pelvic floor muscles, and they play a major role in urinary function. A pelvic floor therapist can asses the muscles and joints of the pelvic area (including the hips, spine, and ribcage) and give specifics exercises to help improve urinary continence. You may be recommended to see a pelvic floor therapist if you have urinary issues, and especially if incontinence symptoms persist after a prostatectomy. Though it’s often never too late to start pelvic floor PT, we at Action Potential believe in proactive care! We now offer Pre-Prostatectomy Prehab services to help prepare your pelvic floor for surgery, as well as improve your knowledge and awareness of the role of the pelvic floor muscles in your urinary function and recovery.
If you are struggling with urinary issues, are scheduled for an upcoming prostatectomy, or have had a prostatectomy and want help improving your urinary continence, give us a call to schedule or talk to one of our knowledgable PTs!