New patient

Hi. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer on 9/23/2008, so I'm just starting out in this process. Met with doctor again yesterday for a Q&A session, but there are a few I forgot to ask:

1) Those nerve bundles they talk about saving - do those nerves also provide sensation to the penis, or is that a different set of nerves?

2) Just how does a pill work? Does it "force" an erection, or is there some mental control over this event?

3) Can you have an orgasm without an erection?

thanks in advance

Hey astro -
Welcome and you will find many, many helpful people here.
I do not have PC - but can answer #3 which is yes, you can.

Welcome to the club, sorry you havd to come.

The nerve bundles are for erections. Sensation nerve bundles are located elsewhere in the abdomen. There are 2 branchs or bundles that run along the outside of the prostate and its supporting structures. During surgery, it is carefully cut away from the prostate, trying to do as little damage as possible to them during the prostate removal. Just the act of moving them and seperating them from the gland creates some damage, sometimes more severe than other times, depending on the surgeons skill and your good or bad luck. Regrowth and repair is a slow process, taking upwards to 2 years in more severe cases, short months in most.

I haven't seen any studies that say you are at an increased risk for other types cancer. The prostate cancer cells themselves are specific to the disease, not like they are generic to any others.

Pills work to dilate the blood vessels in the abdomen and penile area, to allow a natural flow of blood to allow an erection. It does not create, stimulate or in any form trigger the act of erection. You must still be stimulated or aroused, just like you used to be to get an erection. So it isn't a magic 'stimulating" pill.

Yes, orgasm without erection is possible and usually the first way that we are able to after surgery. The feelings may be less or even more intense, and the ejaculation will be dry, but each one will improve in intensity for most people. Loss of urine during orgasm is common for a while, but most learn how to control it with practice. This is one of the reasons why we all have a free pass for m*asterbation, it's rehab therepy for the penile blood vessels, the erection nerves and the nerves that pass sensations to and from the brain. The more the better, the quicker the recovery time for most guys.

Hi Astro,

This is not in response to your post but may be useful in the future.

To help in remembering questions you want to ask, make a list before you go to the MD. Secondly if possible take someone with you to listen to the answers provided by the MD.

While dealing with stressful situations we need all the help possible.

Best,
leaky

Update:

Robotic (da Vinci) LRP was performed 1/22/09 by Dr. Pow-Sang at Moffitt Cancer Center here in Tampa, FL. Surgery went well, doc said he was able to save 100% of the "veil" and sphincter. Catheter comes out in a few days and I can't efffing wait...

cheers & beers,
Chris

Astro, hello and welcome to our little corner of the world. Looks like you got some really good answers to your questions. Your concern about being a cancer magnet of sorts is one I too am concerned about. Some men have PCa, and never have had or ever will have any other kind of cancer. In my case, my PCa was the 4th cancer that I have dealt with since I turned 45, and I am only 56 now. That would be a good question to ask your doctor next time you see him. I always have a list, and still mange to forget something, so I think that's par for the course.

And yes, astro, catheter time is no fun. Hope you continue to heal well, sounds good so far

david in sc