I just finished 43 treatments of EBRT, side effects were managable, thanks to my oncologist. Some at times , were not very pleasant. It goes with the territory, and you just deal with them.
Now comes 6 weeks of healing, along with more side effects, (my Oncologist tells me). I am a 76 year old that could perform "ON Demand" Now I have ED. Well, oncologist (she) "says more to life than loosing ones erections." I agree, I am alive, and supposedly cancer free. I will get my PSA test in middle of May.
Oncologist says ED is probably permanent. Any help or suggestions on ED after EBRT, I welcome any input that could give some hope, that I might regain my erections. lol..... despite what my Doctor said, erections are important to a man.
I want to thank all of you for the support and guidance, this forum is great!
Kind Regards,
Roger
Hi Roger,
Congratulations by the way and fingers crossed regarding your PSA. I had quite a bit of difficulty choosing between RARP (Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy) and EBRT (especially as the oncologist told me I would have to have EBRT in any case as I had a significant extracapsular extension.
In the end I opted for RARP and was told that I would br unlikely to get erections following that as the left neurovascular bundle would need to be removed (quite apart for any impact from EBRT).
In fact there was some life there immediately my cathetar was removed (11 days post op) and on vialis 5mg 1x/dayothing to do with I have a level of erection just about enough (finally) to penetrate a vagina (9 wks post op). It supposedly can only get better and will need vacuum pump therapy too in order to achieve better vascularisation.
I realise this is nothing to do with EBRT but it is to do with hope over what seems lost. Any sexually actuve man knows how important erections are - it is a significant part of life and your oncologist's comment was trite.
I hope you receive some encouragement and that things look hopeful. If all else fails there is always alprostadil pessaries (you put into the urethra or you can inject into the penis) so there is no need to be completely finished.
Best wishes,
Romney
I had 45 treatments of EBRT in 2009 at age 59. I was able to perform sexually with the aid of Viagra until about six months ago. In January of this year, due to recurrence, I had a salvage radical prostatectomy (now 67). I now manage very nicely with penil injections. While that might sound like a difficult thing to do, it really isn't bad and the erection feels pretty normal. Hope things go well for you!
My most difficult issue following the EBRT was controlling bowel function.
Rick,
Same here bowl function, and frequency urinating.a. commode next to my bed would be nice. I go at least every 2 hours and sometimes sooner. Fatigue has been a problem too.
Romnryj.
Thank for your story, and advice. Much appreciated.
Roger
Yes, fatigue hit me extremely hard during the final weeks of treatment. My wife and I are very active hiking and kayaking, but by the time my radiation treatments were finished, I wasn't able to climb a 1/4 mile hill behind our home. The good news is that your stamina will return fairly quickly, and I believe that the more you focus on being active, the quicker your fatigue will dissipate. I also dealt with frequent urination, but that improved rather quickly after treatments were completed.
Rick,
Even taking a shower gets me out of breath and fatigued. I have started doing a little at a time. I will bounce back, I will do my yard work a little at a time.
Looks like after 5 or 6 weeks, most strength will be back .
Gonna try those little blue pills soon,snd see what happens. The ED bothers me the most, seems like part of me died. Some will.say, you can live without it, we'll guess what? You have no choice. I still don't have to like it, so, will explore my options on ED
Roger
Roger i
I hear you on the fatigue, what you're experiencing sounds pretty similar to how exhausted I felt as well. I'm with you 100% on resolving ED, it is a quality of life issue for me as well. Hang in there and let me know if additional specific questions come to mind!
Hi Roger, good that the treatment has now finished and you can start the recovery process. When you say, "it is like part of me died", well mate, the most important part of you did not die...Now you just need to get well, get the body singing again, a bit of exercise, good eating, under control PSA result...Then get the ED function solved. As for the blue tablets, I hear tadalafil (Cialis) are good for getting that department working again. The blue tablets seem to be for 'on demand when planed' e.g.next few hours, where Cialis are more, on demand any time, as the drug remains in the system longer.
Geoff
Nice to hear from you again Roger. I hope any side effects you suffer and short lived and as tolerable as they can be.
Like Romney, I too underwent a RARP and take Cialis 5mg a day, most days. I don't take it daily. It certainly works to get an erection.
If I were you I would not ask the oncologist or urologist for guidance in treating ED.
Instead I would seek out a GP that specialises in a Men's Health. Such a person will be able to guide you on medications and treatments that work best in your case. Such a person is also not focussed on surgery, radiation or hormone treatment but more attentive to the needs and aspirations specifically of those patients suffering ED.
Keep well. Good luck!
geoff9,
Thanks for being supportive of me from the begining of my diagnosis of PCa. Your expertise has been a valuable asset to me. I will always be grateful. And I found a great friend!
Roger
barney,
I will work throught the ED, my Oncologist gave me theimpression , nothing couild be done. So, again your advice is right on! your support I am most appreciative!
Roger
Roger, I agree with Barney. The oncologists maybe ok at cancer treatment, but I would go to some one else who looks after mens health issues...and ED must be very high on their knowledge tree.
Like a few of us here, always here for you mate.
Geoff
Hello Roger! I am so glad that you have finished up with the radiation. I've been thinking about you and also that you should be nearly through with your treatment. Now it is time for you to heal. And for the ED, give it some time. Let your body do some healing. It took me a little while after my Brachytherapy before I felt back to normal again. So don't give up on it. Give yourseflf some time. Glad you are finished with the radiation.
Charles
Hi Charles,
Yes, all done ...43 fractions completed. And I am a happy camper I don't go back to that radiation.
I felt all good today, went out side and mowed my lawn. Of course a lot of rest time in between. They say exercise is good after trestment So I got a good dose of that.
Thank you Charles for your support,and being my friend.
Roger
Geoff,
I have an appointment April, 15, for PSA, and a plan for the ED.
You. Betcha, you guys were here for me. And I will be forever grateful!!!
Roger
Is there the possibility of trying viagra? I'm sure erections are also important to your significant other so why not give it a try. I've heard.viagra works better than cialys
Actually not. Where there has been neural and blood supply damage, re-vascularisation and innervation takes time. Cialis improves the blood flow over 24 hrs and when taken daily has an angiogenic effect. The evidence is that there is continued benefit over a three year period. Viagra is very short term and has a significantly lower effect though it is much cheaper (off patet) so is quite popular for that reason. There are many other approaches too (vacuum pumps and direct localvenodilatation to the penis) but most ED specialists will have sufficinet experience to know how best to approach this.
To clarify, you had just the prostate radiated? Or was there any other area involved? What side effects did you experience?
The tough thing about ED is to keep doing what needs to be done, such as taking Cialis 5 mg daily and using a penis pump. I am slack and barely use the pump. I do take Cialis most days and YES it works.
What he means of course is the HE can't do a thing about ED. And not that nothing can be done.