Can Prostate Cancer Cause Incontinence?
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. Different treatment options exist, depending on the cancer type, stage, and the patient’s thoughts and feelings about potential side effects.
While prostate cancer itself does not typically cause incontinence, surgery to remove the prostate—also called a prostatectomy—can cause incontinence as a side effect.
What does a prostate do?
The prostate—an organ only in males—is about the size of a walnut and sits directly below the bladder. The prostate’s main function is to provide fluids and nutrients to the ejaculate that can help sperm transit. Beyond its role in reproduction, it's not necessary to sustain life or for other bodily processes. However, because it is close to the bladder, it can affect urination.What is incontinence?
Simply put, incontinence is the leakage of urine (pee). There are two main types of incontinence: urge incontinence and stress incontinence.
- Urge incontinence is when people experience the urge to go pee so badly, they can’t hold it anymore, and they leak urine as a result.
- Stress incontinence is leakage that happens with movement or maneuvers, such as coughing, laughing, or lifting something heavy.
When a person’s prostate is removed, stress incontinence can be a common side effect.
Why might prostate cancer treatments cause incontinence?
Because of its location, the prostate often creates a narrowing that helps men hold urine back. Certain prostate cancer treatments might increase the likelihood of incontinence.
- Prostate removal surgery: When the prostate is surgically removed, that narrowing is no longer present, and men often rely completely on their pelvic muscles to hold urine back. This can be a big change that the muscles may not be ready for.
- Radiation therapy: With radiation therapy, you don’t see this same kind of stress incontinence because the prostate remains in place. However, other side effects are possible.
The choice among surgery, radiation, or a combination of the two to treat prostate cancer comes down to several factors:
- Tumor size
- Tumor location
- Patient’s age and personal values
- What side effects patients are more willing to cope with
It’s important that patients have an in-depth conversation with their oncology team about all treatment options and values before undergoing treatment.
How long does incontinence last after prostate surgery?
Every human body is different. Leakage is present for all men at first, but as the body heals and relearns how to squeeze those muscles without a prostate, leakage often improves.
Today, most prostate cancer surgeries are done robotically, which means the surgery is more precise. So men choosing this surgery now are less likely to have long-term severe leaking than in the past.
Managing urinary symptoms after prostate cancer
Did you know?
Wilmot Cancer Institute is a national leader in researching cancer treatment side effects to improve quality of life? Scientists at Wilmot have discovered ways to treat nausea and vomiting, fatigue, insomnia, and more. Learn more about Wilmot’s Cancer Prevention & Control Research Program.
- Physical therapy: Many patients see a physical therapist after surgery. This specialist will provide pelvic floor therapy to help men learn to use those muscles more effectively to reduce leakage.
- Pay attention to your body: Being in touch with your body is important. Going to the bathroom more often may help.
- Continued care: After prostate cancer surgery, patients have follow-ups with their urology team to discuss what they're experiencing and anything they need.
“If we can continue to make the leakage less or, in an ideal world, eliminate it entirely, that's a huge win for men choosing surgery to treat their prostate cancer.”
What clinical trials are available at Wilmot Cancer Institute to help with this side effect?
In early 2026, Wilmot Cancer Institute began enrolling patients in a randomized phase 3 clinical trial of a urologic scaffold. With this trial, some men will have a small, tube-shaped piece of suture material placed during their prostate cancer surgery. The tube dissolves over time, so no additional surgeries are needed.
The tube recreates a narrower opening between the prostate and bladder, aiming to help minimize leakage.
As tissues in that area heal over time, the anatomy will be left in a shape that is more consistent with what it was when the prostate was still there. The hope is that this allows men to have their prostate removed while reducing any long-term leakage.
University of Rochester Health Research
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