What about my sex life?
This is the most frequently asked question and the thought uppermost in many men’s minds when they are first diagnosed with prostate cancer.
There is no straightforward answer, because it depends on the stage of the cancer and the treatment that the man undergoes. It also depends on your definition of sex.
So, let’s deal with men who opt for radical prostatectomy, which is surgical removal of the prostate gland. Most men will experience sexual dysfunction after the operation.
Who can help men & their partners?
“What if every cancer patient had a sexual recovery specialist?”
These are the words of my colleague, Victoria Cullen, who specialises in helping men to get their sex life back after prostate cancer treatment.
After hearing Victoria speak at the Asia-Pacific Prostate Cancer Conference in 2017, urology surgeon, Professor Declan Murphy invited her to provide sexual recovery consultations to all his private prostatectomy patients.
Almost every man experiences a change in sexual functioning after prostate removal surgery. In particular, most men will not have erections for at least a year (usually longer, and sometimes permanently). The impact of this loss on quality of life and self-esteem can be devastating.
Victoria’s approach aims to help patients recover as much function as possible and have a fulfilling sex life regardless.
This is the first time an Australian surgeon has prioritised this aspect of quality of life recovery within ‘usual care’. You can hear why Professor Murphy has referred his patients to Victoria in this YouTube video.
I recommend checking out Victoria’s website, A Touchy Subject. When you do, please pass it on to others who are interested in sexual recovery after prostate cancer treatment.
