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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / May 2006Erectile dysfunction
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer last week. I had a meeting with my Eurologist yesterday but have now some questions that I did not think to ask at the time and woud appreciate input: 1. Do you need both nerves to get a sound erection or is it a redundnant system i.e one will do? 2. I have had trouble getting and keeping a strong erection for some time now ( a couple of years) - could this be related to the cancer? 3. When I do get an erection - albeit second rate - I get pain in the gland and from the foreskin which makes both the erection itself and intercourse uncomfortable. Could this be related in any way to the cancer? Thanks IanL Welcom, Ian, to the club no one ever asks to join. Please give us some particulars; age, Gleason Score, Stage and PSA are really important as you discuss your situation with us and your urologist and other medical personnel. > I had a meeting with > my Eurologist yesterday but have now some questions that I did not > think to ask I would say this is a universal concept. First, you're in shock. Second, you're still in denial. Third, you don't know enough to ask all questions. We stand ready, willing and able to help you with all of these. > 1. Do you need both nerves to get a sound erection or is it a > redundnant system i.e one will do? It is not redundant per se, but then you don't need both nerve bundles, necessarily. However, even when saved, the nerves experience an insult that will usually cause temporary, sometimes permanent, impotence. If both are saved, you will still be impotent for some time. If one is lost, a seral nerve implant may help. In my case, both were lost and, 2½ years later, I started having usual erections without help. Oh, and then there is the help. Viagra and other meds are usually, eventually successful regardless of nerve loss. > 2. I have had trouble getting and keeping a strong erection for some > time now ( a couple of years) - could this be related to the cancer? I'd wonder what your prostate size is and what your Stage is. Certainly, if the cancer has invaded the nerves, it can have an effect on erections. But, so can enlarged prostates and other physiological and psychological problems. > 3. When I do get an erection - albeit second rate - I get pain in the > gland and from the foreskin which makes both the erection itself and > intercourse uncomfortable. Could this be related in any way to the > cancer? Never heard of that prior to prostate surgery, but I experienced it after prostate surgery (for a little while), so I guess cancer could duplicate the feeling. Again, welcome, Steve Kramer of Cincinnati  SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 Non Illegitimi Carborundum > In my case, both were lost and, 2½ years later, I started having usual > erections without help. That should have been, "usable," not, "usual." > In my case, both were lost and, 2½ years later, I started having usual > erections without help. Wow. I did not know that. You're the Lance Armstrong of erections. I had both nerves spared, but nothing spontaneous yet. 20mg of Levitra helps somewhat, but not completely. So there still may be hope? I thought if both nerves were lost that all hope for erections were lost too. I'm a little over 17 months out from RLRP. B.A. >> In my case, both were lost and, 2½ years later, I started having usual >> erections without help. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > both nerves were lost that all hope for erections were lost too. I'm a > little over 17 months out from RLRP. 17 months with both nerves spared? Yes, you are well within the window. However, I failed to mention that I lost it again soon thereafter with radiation. It took me another year I think to get it back again and by then.... well.... personal relationships prohibit the exercise thereof. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 Non Illegitimi Carborundum > However, I failed to mention that I lost it again soon thereafter with > radiation. It took me another year I think to get it back again and by > then.... well.... personal relationships prohibit the exercise thereof. I've heard of divorces cutting men off at the knees but . . . at both ELBOWS? ;-) I.P. >> However, I failed to mention that I lost it again soon thereafter with >> radiation. It took me another year I think to get it back again and by >> then.... well.... personal relationships prohibit the exercise thereof. > > I've heard of divorces cutting men off at the knees but . . . at both > ELBOWS? ;-) We were talking stuffable erections. Hands don't require stuffing. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 Non Illegitimi Carborundum > I was diagnosed with prostate cancer last week. I had a meeting with > my Eurologist yesterday but have now some questions that I did not > think to ask at the time and woud appreciate input: > 1. Do you need both nerves to get a sound erection or is it a > redundnant system i.e one will do? One nerve will sufice, but the odds are better with two. > 2. I have had trouble getting and keeping a strong erection for some > time now ( a couple of years) - could this be related to the cancer? Unless there is something very special about your cancer, I would think it unlikely that the impotence is related to the cancer. Ask your urologist to be sure. If you have erection problems before treatment for prostate cancer, you are rather unlikely to do better after treatment. > 3. When I do get an erection - albeit second rate - I get pain in the > gland and from the foreskin which makes both the erection itself and > intercourse uncomfortable. Could this be related in any way to the > cancer? Again, it would seem unlikely, but ask your doctor if there is anything special about your diagnosis that would support such a conclusion. On the other hand, if the pain originates in the prostate, for whatever reason, removing may eliminate the pain. Ask your doctor what he thinks. > Thanks IanL > I was diagnosed with prostate cancer last week. I had a meeting with > my Eurologist yesterday but have now some questions that I did not [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Thanks IanL Sorry to sidestep your questions Ian, but the #1 issue here is getting the right treatment for your cancer, so you can hopefully live a nice long life. Don't let the other stuff distract you from this. ED is a reality we all have to live with regardless of treatment method. If you're young, if it's contained, if it's a reasonable score, and if you have a good surgeon, are all variables to be considered. All that said, it may still be a crapshoot even if everything goes perfectly. Sorry again, but this is the reality we deal with. SignatureJK Sinrod www.sinrodstudios.com www.MyConeyIslandMemories.com You are, of course, absolutely right. Don't be sorry. It is just this down to earth philosophy that I need right now to take me through the 'dark nights of the soul' Thanks Ian > You are, of course, absolutely right. Don't be sorry. It is just > this down to earth philosophy that I need right now to take me through > the 'dark nights of the soul' Thanks Ian No one was a bigger chicken than I was. In hindsight I can tell you this after almost 4 years post RP. The surgery and recovery was 1/100th what I thought it would be. I had almost no pain. Was home in 2 days. Back at work in a limited capacity in almost 2 weeks. And I'm proud to say that although it's not the same as it was, (hey I'm 56 years old now). I have regular sex with my wife almost every week. Get it taken care of, and the rest will all fall into place with time. JK Sinrod www.sinrodstudios.com www.MyConeyIslandMemories.com |
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