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Pros and cons of cryotherapy for prostate cancer
By Mayo Clinic staff| Pros of cryotherapy | Cons of cryotherapy |
|---|---|
| It has been shown to control cancer confined to the prostate in specific situations. | The procedure may have to be repeated. |
| Usually, you'll need to stay in the hospital only one day or less. | Side effects such as injury to the rectum or urethra can be severe. It is these risks that have limited widespread use of this procedure. |
|
You'll have little blood loss, compared with surgery. |
It is expected to cause erectile dysfunction in most cases, though some results from studies of more technologically advanced treatment methods show a slightly lower rate. |
| Most men recover normal bowel function. | You may have trouble urinating for several weeks. |
| You'll have temporary soreness where the rods were inserted. | |
|
Long-term survival rates appear lower than do those with surgery or radiation therapy. |
|
| It's not yet clear how well this procedure controls cancer in the long term. |
