ProtonPals

Other than cancer itself, erectile dysfunction is a primary concern of many patients choosing treatment for prostate cancer. Generally speaking, we have been told by the doctors that if you had no problem with erectile dysfunction before treatment that you should have no problem after. The exception to this statement is patients who have proton radiation along with hormone treatment (See Erectile Dysfunction with Hormonal Therapy). Any radical therapy for prostate cancer can possibly impact erectile function (proton therapy included), however, the incidence of this can varying significantly between types of therapies as well as individuals. Suggest you obtain Sexuality and Cancer published by the American Cancer Society and available in the Proton Therapy Center lower lobby. A few more points to remember are that any radical therapy will impact ED, there is a natural decline of erectile function with age, men with good erectile function prior to treatment will maintain this function post treatment and that medications (Viagra) will help some patients. (P) proton therapy only (PH) proton + hormonal therapy

If sex was important before treatment and you had Lupron shots how are you doing now and would you still recommend proton therapy. Please send us your input. Send your reply to Ban Capron bancapron@hotmail.com or if you receive this by e-mail simply click reply to Joe Landry. We are looking for comments on how you function either during treatment or well after. You can provide “your first name, e-mail address (optional) and completion date” or say “anonymous and completion date”. Also indicate if you had proton radiation only (P) or proton and hormonal therapy (PH). Always put your completion date. Please be brief.

Patient Comments

I’ve actually found myself more interested in sex during therapy. Brian (P) brian.baucom@bp.com completed February 2008

I completed treatment and have found no change in erectile dysfunction during or since completion. I think I had a mental concern prior to treatment due to knowing several friends with big problems due to the treatment they chose. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no longer a young stallion, but sex is no worse and perhaps a bit better now that treatment is complete. Ban (P) bancapron@hotmail.com completion February 2008

So far I do not have any problems. Sometimes I use Viagra for help like before therapy. Julio U (P) jtuberquia@aol.com completion February 2007.

No problem with ED during, before, and for six months after treatment. Now none of the pills or anything helps with my ED. Still in all, I think that the proton treatments are the only way to go. This is the only side effect that I’ve had from all these treatments. If I had it to do over this is the choice I’d make. I have not experienced any tiredness like I had before Proton. Keith (P) ksmax@sbcglobal.net completion May 2007

No significant problem before treatment or after treatment regarding E.D. Tommy (P) TRAMMELLS@prodigy.net completion Jan. 2007

I am happy to report to you that I am 68 years old and my sex life has never been better. I can’t explain it but, it is! Maybe my wife and I realize how lucky we are and how much we really love each other. Anonymous (P) completion July 2007

Erectile dysfunction was a huge issue for me when deciding what treatment to choose for my prostate cancer. I was 50 years old when diagnosed and sexually active. It has been 15 months since I completed treatment and all systems are go. The only difference I have noticed is the amount of ejaculate seems to be less than prior to treatment. My PSA was 5.4 with a Gleason of 7. Now my PSA is 0.8. I work out 3 to 5 times per week and compete in 4 or 5 triathlons each summer. My first one of 2008 is this weekend. Anonymous (P) completion March 2007

ProtonPals is simply an information sharing network of patients. ProtonPals hopes to inform, encourage and help patients through shared knowledge. Members are not doctors so more serious concerns should be directed directly to your doctor. ProtonPals also desires to promote the M. D. Anderson Proton Therapy Center as for virtually everyone it has been a very positive if not life saving experience.