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Erectile Dysfunction and its Affects on Cancer Patients

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection adequate for sexual intercourse. Erectile dysfunction refers to the erection function only, not to a man's sex drive or ability to achieve orgasm. Certain prostate cancer treatments may affect the nerves or arteries responsible for erections while others may affect the libido or sex drive. When erectile dysfunction occurs in association with cancer or another serious illness there is usually a mixture of physical and psychological causes.

There are two types of cancer most likely to be associated with erectile dysfunction. These two types of cancer are prostate cancer and cancer of the lower bowel. It is more common for the cancer treatments for these cancers to cause erectile dysfunction than for the cancer itself to cause it. There are hundreds of different types of cancer and while there have been many treatments found, most men are most alarmed by the possibility of erectile dysfunction. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men and the frequency is increasing. During the initial period of anxiety caused by erectile dysfunction, some people find the intimacy of sex a comfort.

Treatments for prostate cancer can involve surgery to remove the prostate or radiation therapy. During surgery, the nerves which control erectile function could potentially be severed. There are new surgical techniques to avoid cutting those nerves. Doctors are becoming less sure of what causes erectile dysfunction after radiation therapy. This is due to the fact that erectile dysfunction among men without prostate cancer is typically caused by a problem which begins in the blood vessels. Doctors do know that radiation causes obstruction of the vessels within in the treatment area.

If aggressive treatment for prostate cancer is necessary, there are two options. One choice is radical prostatectomy, which is an operation that completely removes the prostate. The other option is radiation therapy that effectively reduces or kills the existing cancer cells. The choices in this cancer treatment depend entirely upon the individual, his disease, and his physician. While the most important issue is to remove the cancer, both prostate removal and radiation have a high chance of causing erectile dysfunction. Determining whether surgery can cause erectile dysfunction depends on age. Younger men are more likely to avoid erectile dysfunction after surgery, but up to 80% of men who have a radical prostatectomy become impotent. Regardless of whether a surgeon can spare some or even all of the nerves, the trauma could potentially cause some degree of impotence during the first year after surgery.

If a male has erectile dysfunction related to prostate cancer or its treatment, he should see a doctor, typically an urologist, who specializes in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. By working with an urologist, men suffering from erectile dysfunction caused by cancer can help determine the best treatment for their particular situation. There are very good chances that a treatment that will help them achieve a firm erection.