HT+IMRT+Brachy =Permanent Side Effects

I have been on Zolodex for a month now and have experienced mild hot flash (hot face and ears), fatigue in the afternoon and now have stopped having the ability to achieve ejaculation. I was reading another post about SE from this treatment and came across this quote from Tall Allen.


"I assume you know that you will lose the ability to ejaculate, and that will be permanent. That's from the radiation.Orgasms should be unaffected, though."

I had not heard this before. It left me kinda in a state of shock. I've read about incontinence and ED etc. and thought that these SE should in time return to some effect if not almost back to normal.

Allen, I have to tell you, that is a big one for me . But it is what it is. I knew that my life was going to be changed from here on out, just not that way. Update : Get my markers on July 27th ,Simulation CT Aug. 14Th.
So ,moving forward. -Mark

Mark,

Dry orgasms are guaranteed after surgery because both the prostate and seminal vesicles are removed, and that's where semen (but not sperm) comes from. After radiation, some guys continue to produce semen, but not many. I think I read that 92% lose it within 5 years of radiation, but it is not well studied. Most doctors just don't think it's very important. One guy in my support group bragged that he can still "hit the ceiling" 3 years after SBRT; so who knows, you may be one of the lucky ones. There may be a small amount of clear fluid released from the Cowper's gland (the source of pre-cum) at orgasm.

I agree with you - it's a biggie for me too. After about 50 years of associating ejaculation with orgasm in my mind, it took a bit of mental readjustment for me. Orgasms feel the same, but there is no evidence. Because I am not married, it is embarrassing to explain to sex partners that I indeed did have an orgasm even though there was no evidence of that. I try to warn them in advance.

- Allen

Artist
All these SEs are normal and suck. My sig shows I've had the whole nine yards of treatment and still am on ADT. No sex and no desire; when I could achieve orgasm before RT I couldn't achieve erection and shot urine. I hope at some point to do this again! Nice huh? 😥
Bob

Ok . I've been waiting for your input and as expected you have come through. Although I am now aware that ejaculation will be off the board after radiation, should I be experiencing it already just being on zolodex. Thanks as always for the info, I lean on you guys for strength through this and for your experiences,

Mark

Hello Artist Mark,

I am also on the ZOLADEX injections, just as you are --- over time, as far as ADT hormone shots, I've been on LUPRON, then FIRMAGON, and now ZOLADEX ...

In regard to your post ... I learned something from the medical team at Mayo Clinic, where I go for additional labs, scans, and consultations a few times each year ...

Over time, I have had a detailed M.R.I. of the prostate ...

Most men, upon diagnosis, have an enlarged prostate due to the cancer ... this is why men typically are "up in the night" visiting the bathroom quite often ... creating urinary "frequency and urgency" ...

The medical team at Mayo Clinic described it to me this way ... they stated that treatments, such as ADT hormone shots and chemotherapy treatments and other prostate cancer treatments basically ASSAULT the prostate, as treatments continue over the course of weeks, months, and even years ...

In their words, it often leaves the prostate "SHRUNKEN and ATROPHIED" ... after months and months of treatments, which basically "assault" the cancerous prostate ...

Just some insight gleaned, from my medical team at Mayo Clinic, in reference to your post ...

Sent with my best,
I.S.U. "Cyclone Fan"

Mark,

As I understand what you have said your only treatment so far is a month of Zolodex. If that is accurate it is somewhat unusual for you to be able to achieve orgasm but be unable to ejaculate (to have a dry orgasm.) GnRH agonists take a few weeks to really start working but after that they tend to put the kibosh of pretty much every aspect of a man's sex life -- except that one. If you told us you were not interested in sex, or unable to get an erection, or unable to achieve orgasm, or all of these at the same time we would all say "Yep, it does that." But dry orgasms are a side effect they don't usually cause. Do you also take any of the "help-you-pee" meds, like Flomax? Like some of the other guys said, those drugs can interfere with ejaculation.

Do you know how long the doctors plan to keep you on the Zolodex? The radiation and the brachytherapy will probably cause some sort of permanent changes to your sex life -- reduced ejaculate, erectile dysfunction, your junk glows in the dark -- but they will be things you can work around... once the Zolodex wears off and you can remember why you want to.

PeterDisAbelard. I think you misunderstood. I have never had a dry orgasm, but have been experiencing a continued loss of interest and more difficulty with ED and unable to achieve orgasm. So now I know what I'm experiencing is normal. Ht causes all the SE that I had heard about from treatment. I just didn't expect it to happen so soon into treatment. It just goes with all the rest of this stinking disease and it hasn't been that long from when I found out I have PC.. It's depressing. And the lack of energy is starting to get to me. I wake up grouchy and I'm on edge. I wonder how much worse it's going get and I'm sure it's going to.. I can read all the info I can and try really hard to find out as much as I can about whats coming next,but it is still unknown ,and unless you've gone through it you really can't completely know what to expect. I just know I'm glad I have this site to help me along this journey. Thanks Mark