In terms of side effects, how does surgery compare to radiation in treating prostate cancer?
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine examined quality of life outcomes after radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer. (Sanda MG et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 358:1250-1261 (2008)). In this study, long-term urinary incontinence was very rare after both treatment options. Urinary and rectal symptoms were worse after radiation therapy. Erectile function was slightly better after radiation therapy. The outcomes from this study were captured 2 years after treatment. It should be noted that surgeons at the Smilow Center have reported that potency continues to improve between 2 to 4 years after radical prostatectomy (Glickman L, Godoy G, Lepor H. J. Urol. 181(2):731-5 (2009)). In contrast, there is evidence that potency deteriorates beyond 2 years after radiation therapy (Penson DF et al. J Urol. 173(5):1701-5 (2005)). In addition, the above comparison study excluded men who underwent radiation and received neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant and
