Are you seeing more and more men with scraggly facial hair in the month of November? It’s no coincidence November is the month for Movember, a movement that encourages men to grow moustaches to raise awareness for men’s health issues. It is also called No Shave November. Movember is a charity that aims to change the face of men’s health. Funds and awareness are raised each November by men all over the world.
Movember is raising money for men’s health: mainly prostate and testicular cancers. Prostate cancer is a tumor of the prostate gland, the walnut-sized organ located in front of the rectum and below the bladder. The prostate gland’s function is to produce part of the seminal fluid, the solution that carries sperm. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men in the United States other than skin cancer. It is second to lung cancer as the most common cause of male cancer deaths.
Prostate cancer is life-threatening but when caught early, it is treatable and there is a much greater survival rate. The main treatments are radical prostatectomy, which removes the prostate gland or radiation therapy. These two treatments can cause damage to the urinary sphincter. Later, urinary incontinence can occur.
After treatment for prostate cancer, it is extremely common for men to experience either temporary or permanent urinary incontinence. Removing the prostate disrupts the way that bladder holds urine, resulting in leakage. Radiation can decrease the capacity of the bladder causing spasms, which means leakage. Surgery can also damage the nerves that control bladder function.
Unfortunately, this is a cause of urinary incontinence for many men. It is usually treated with conservative treatments such as pelvic floor exercises or medication. If these are not effective, there are surgical options that can help eliminate urinary incontinence in men.
If you are suffering from urinary incontinence due to prostate cancer treatment, there is help. The Incontinence Institute provides individualized treatment plans with a variety of options based on your individual case. Contact us or call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 800-771-1953 to learn more.