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Salvage Radiation and Impotence

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Posted 6/29/2009 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
It's been about 6 weeks since the prostatectomy. My boyfriend has about 1/2 the erection as before, but it's not capable of penetration. He can get an erection capable of penetration with the pump, but it only lasts a couple minutes at most. I' m wondering what to expect once he starts salvage radiation. He takes ED meds and uses the pump every day. Will he be less likely to get an erection with or without the pump? Will he likely lose desire also?

Dana

Posted 6/29/2009 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Dana,

Looking at his stats you have posted. Has it already been decided that he will have radiation, or are you speaking of some future date?

David in SC
Posted 6/30/2009 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Did the pump he is using come with a "ring kit"? The ring should fit tightly. A combination of lubrication plus the proper ring plus using the pump to set the ring at the base of the penis should prevent the blood from exiting the penis, maintaining the erection for as long as you like.

The pump in combination with the ed med fills the penis with blood and makes it large and rigid. The ring prevents it's release, maintaining the erection.


There are instructions on the vacurect site that may be helpful:

http://www.vacurect.com/howitworks.htm
Posted 6/30/2009 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies. He's pretty set on radiation. He has extensive positive margins, so both hospitals are recommending it, and he seems to prefer radiation before jumping into HT. I think he may still think the radiation can cure it. It will probably start in a couple weeks. He has the rings, but one was so tight he was scared to try it again. The bigger one gets too tight after a few minutes and he has to take it off. He heard about the injections, but is unsure if he'd be able to stick himself with a needle there.

Dana

Posted 6/30/2009 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
From what my doc told me, the salvage radiation itself does not usually make things worse in continence or ED department, but it does stop progress. That's why they prefer to wait a bit to let things heal. Radiation does not reduce libido, as far as I know, but if used in combination with HT, hormones do. As you see from my stats, I am in somewhat similar situation, except for the lymph node. The radiation doc recommended hormons AND radiation as it has a better chance to kill off stray cells than either treatment alone. He especially mentioned that for pelvic radiation (I assume that your SO is going to do that, given the positive lymph node) the doze that can be safely delivered is smaller and the radiation needs all the help it can get (i.e. hormones). You also may want to find out the post-op PSA prior to radiation regiment.
Posted 6/30/2009 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Dana,

So far the salvage radiation has not negatively impacted me sexually and I am coming up on 18 months post radiation.  I did have over a two year period between surgery and radiation and as an earlier poster pointed out that did allow me to regain most it not all of my pre surgery status.  I don't know how it would have worked out if the radiation had started six months post surgery but i do know they seem to have a pretty good handle on IMRT and preventing collateral damage while killing the cancer cells.  Good luck.

Posted 8/18/2009 4:50 PM (GMT 0)

diego82 said...

DirtyRottenSpammer this pill is a wonderful medicine, it gave me a brand new chance to have a normal sexual life.

Mods...looks like a spammer from diego82...need you guys to check it out [img]/community/emoticons/nono.gif[/img]

I got him, had to do some editing in your referral, it included the link... smilewinkgrin

Post Edited By Moderator (James C.) : 8/18/2009 12:34:46 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/18/2009 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thought I'd put my 2-cents in
its been 16mos since Radiation which was 17mos after surgery My surgeon was certain i would be as good as after surgery The radiologist felt I would loose most of my performing ability. AH HA Happy to report My surgeon "SO far" was correct. As before any of this all came about I was and am in pretty good shape and I believe it was do to my choice of surgeon. worry fist about the cancer everything else is just a bonus! The hardest day was the initial diagnosis the second hardest day was the recurrence. I feel confidence but not overconfident, Best to you both.
Posted 8/18/2009 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
I completed IMRT about two weeks ago. (37 treatments). My Psa started to rise about a year or so after LRP.  I was about  85% back to normal (with viagra) in the ED department when I started radiation.  I have had no ED side effects yet

and am about the same.  My Rad Onc said about 70% of the men remain potent with medication after IMRT.  Don't know if this is true but so far so good.  I was hestitant about IMRT because of this issue but I was willing to gamble to hopefully stop the cancer.

Posted 8/18/2009 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
If he is having partial erections, the injections really would work well. The teeny needle really is nothing , but some guys just have this thing about sticking needles into that part of their body.

Just a suggestion, but sometimes the partner ismore able to do it for them, and can even be a somewhat erotic activity.
Posted 8/18/2009 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Based on what my urologist/surgeon and my new radiation oncologist told me on this subject, and I am contemplating salvage radiation as we speak, where you are with ED when you start, should be where you end up with ED when you are through. You will definitely not improve after from what they told me independently.

David in SC
Posted 8/19/2009 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
David, thanks for the info...pretty much what my doc also said, but I still have those little nagging questions in my mind about it.
Posted 8/19/2009 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Les, my brother, as we all know well here, none of our choices are thrilling or easy, always seems like one has to choose the lesser of evils. I am starting to resign myself to that.

David
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