Carried out by Matthew Resnick M.D. from the Urologic Surgery department and Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, the research looked at men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer for the study. They followed the group of 1, 655 men who were aged between 55 and 74, 70.3 percent of whom had had their prostate removed and 29.7 percent of whom had simply undergone radiotherapy. Patients were asked to complete a survey about their wellness and quality of life, and were then contacted again at set times in the future asking again about issues that may be related to prostate cancer.
It was discovered that there was a strong link between urinary leakage and prostate removal, although those who had had radiation were not at increased risk. However, as time went on, the two groups became equal in terms of the urinary leakage that they experienced.
Men who had had their prostates removed were also significantly more likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction in the five years following their surgery, as opposed to the radiation group. Again, the two groups balanced out over time and became more equal, with the incidences of sexual problems actually increasing in the radiation group to a level that exceeded those in the surgical group.
Some patients also experienced problems with bowel movements, such as an increased rate of urgency. This appeared to be higher in the radiation group, but again had leveled out between the two groups by the 15 year point.