Bowel issues after prostate cancer surgery

Whether you’re having bowel movements too often or not often enough after surgery for prostate cancer (radical prostatectomy), not having complete control can be frustrating. Don’t take this lightly — it’s important to let your doctor know if you’re having bowel problems, as this can lead to bigger issues.

Right after a

you might have trouble pooping or emptying your bowels (constipation). This is usually caused by the painkillers you’re taking or being dehydrated, and should resolve within a few weeks. If it continues long term (which is rare) or becomes uncomfortable, you might need to take some medicines to help.

Speak to your doctor about laxatives or stool softeners, and ask if they’re a safe option for you. It’s important that you don’t strain, as that can harm your recovery, cause hemorrhoids or even damage the muscles that allow you to control your bowels.

Constipation can also add pressure to your bladder, worsening


It’s important to inform your doctor or healthcare team, to help take charge of your body.

Take charge of
your bowels

Talk to your doctor, nurse
or care team

If your bowel issues are bothering you and preventing you from doing your usual daily activities, speak to your doctor. This could be your family doctor, or doctor that’s been treating the cancer (such as a urologist or radiation oncologist). Your doctor may prescribe medications to help with either constipation or diarrhea. You can also speak with a nurse (a continence nurse specialist, if available) about getting help.

Look for continence services
and resources online

is a good place to start, and has information on choosing and buying products, as well as on reimbursement and insurance. Additional information on incontinence and support tools can be found on the and the .

Know where to
find a bathroom

To help ease your mind and to make sure you know where to find a bathroom when you’re out, there are a number of

you can use to find the public bathroom nearest you.

What's next?

Now that you've read up on Bowel issues after prostate cancer surgery, here are some related articles to explore as you continue to build your knowledge and understanding of this topic.
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