Recently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advised against routine screening for prostate cancer that uses a blood test that checks for high levels of PSA (prostate-specific antigen).

“One reason cited by the task force was the potential harm that can result from treating prostate cancer — such as urinary incontinence,” says Grafstein. “What these recommendations ignore is that postsurgery urinary incontinence is a condition that we can treat very effectively using minimally invasive methods.”

Although urinary incontinence is extremely common in the immediate aftermath of prostate surgery, for most patients it’s a temporary problem.

“The majority of cases improve with time alone in the first six months to a year,” says Grafstein. “After that one-year mark, it’s very unlikely that the incontinence will go away untreated — and many men are reluctant to seek treatment because they’re still hoping it will go away on its own.”

The underlying cause of post-prostatectomy incontinence is weakness in the urinary sphincter, a ring of muscles that control the flow of urine from the bladder.

Complete details: http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-06-20/news/32339598_1_incontinence-urinary-sphincter-prostate-cancer