/sc-assets/prd/practices/921736c8-9040-49cd-ba2f-955c194b6946/XNk7NtSAHBAkjeywlU12RBcJKidf_kzL_cQdZ_ptYhX894eUsTyrxwh-N1q6ht-DaK9T8b4G0OL9p60HoNyNuu6u-Lx9SLce.png)
"Prostate cancer and sexual function have been closely intertwined…it was immediately recognized that treatment for prostate cancer came at the cost of erectile function."
Dr. Peter T. Scardino, MD
Chairman of the Department of Surgery
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
More
Approximately one-third of men who have undergone treatment for prostate cancer report that the subsequent lack of sexual function has the greatest impact on their quality of life. With the average age of men diagnosed with prostate cancer being 66 years old, this issue is often neglected because of the mistaken impression that older men are disinterested in sex. Furthermore, many men over the age of fifty have already started to see a natural decline in their sexual performance with erections not being rigid, a reduction in keeping erections throughout intercourse and early ejaculation. As a result, most are starting prostate cancer treatment with some level of preexisting sexual dysfunction that is only made worse by cancer therapies.
/sc-assets/prd/practices/921736c8-9040-49cd-ba2f-955c194b6946/cIOAJTNBXCjGBFAOJ1j41z03E2ATBcAFquYABR7og3LdSuHNNMEGIVEE41H6PqTqheLbIx1k6PcOkVq_aVBJEIRwXa_gag.png)
More about our post-prostate recovery plan
Common treatments for prostate cancer include Brachytherapy, robotic assisted surgery to remove the prostate (RALP), external beam radiation, Proton therapy, CyberKnife, Cryosurgery, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), and hormonal/immunotherapy. Unfortunately, some impact from minor to complete loss of sexual function is unavoidable among all treatments. There are four main components of erectile function that may be affected by prostate cancer treatment: libido, mechanical ability, orgasm/climax and ejaculation.
Surgery/RALP – even with a nerve sparing prostatectomy, damage to the nerves and blood vessels, as well as atrophy/loss of length in the penis, is common when the prostate is removed. This is because the nerves and blood vessels that control the physical aspect of an erection are especially delicate, and any trauma to the area can result in loss of function.
Hormone Therapy/Immunotherapy – hormones, such as testosterone, may fuel the cancer growth. Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) shuts down testosterone development in order to starve the cancer, causing side effects such as reduced energy levels, sex drive, mental acuity and a sense of wellness.
Radiation/Brachytherapy/Proton Therapy/CyberKnife and HIFU – causes damage to the delicate tissues involved in an erection such as nerves, blood vessels and blood flow. This creates fibrosis in the tissues, affecting healthy sexual function. Effects of radiation can take up to a year to cause damage.
/sc-assets/prd/practices/921736c8-9040-49cd-ba2f-955c194b6946/lPaIkNe22uXGNQioOAKKW22_HcElBeY1MylYwvXXVi7PfScGS47mpLBppdOnxZofoy2WnE6Ti9XWWTWJpVe5_qkjOxiTMtk.png)
Sexual function recovery
There are a number of factors that determine the severity of sexual function loss following prostate cancer treatment. Age, treatment type, severity of the cancer and pretreatment erectile function. Each variable plays a role in how much time is needed to recover and how much function can be regained. Although there are men who only suffer minor or temporary disruption in sexual function, for many the disruption is much more dramatic and even permanent. Time is a critical factor in the prevention of further sexual dysfunction as well as the recovery of sexual function following prostate cancer treatment.
Following cancer treatment, there is an acute injury phase to the nerves and blood vessels that support erections. Without intervention, the arteries, nerves and functional units of an erection (the corpus cavernosum) move into a chronic phase of functional loss. The corpus cavernosum develops hypoxia, or loss of oxygenation. This leads to fibrosis and collagen accumulation, causing further Veno-Occlusive dysfunction which will lead to further arterial and nerve injury.
Studies suggest that starting a program to regain sexual function six weeks after cancer treatment can help men regain sexual health. Increasing blood flow to the penis encourages healing. Having two to three erections a week, even if there is no sexual activity, can help the tissues of the penis regain healthy function, but how is that possible when you have lost your ability to obtain an erection?
Increasingly high patient loads at hospitals and clinics, as well as insurance limitations, leave most urologist without the bandwidth needed to properly treat sexual function loss. As a result, post prostate cancer ED is usually treated with the standardized approach of pills or injections for the first year.
At Kane Health, our Post Prostate Cancer Recovery (PPCR) program is a multi-focal, comprehensive program that is designed to optimize your recovery. Our personalized medicine philosophy means that Dr. Threatt takes a hands-on, individualized approach to addressing your specific needs to ensure you have the best possible results. Our innovative program involves proprietary medications, micro-dosed to your personal body chemistry, paired with acoustic wave therapy administered at critical intervals to stimulate angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels), along with regenerative therapies to regenerate cells and accelerate healing. Our comprehensive program is designed to address all the factors that have contributed to the loss of sexual function during cancer treatment and help our patients regain meaningful, lasting function.
What can I expect?
At Kane Health, we take a holistic and very personalized approach to helping men regain sexual health following post prostate cancer treatment. We understand the emotional, mental and physical challenges our patients have already endured in the course of their cancer treatment. As a result, we have designed our PPCR program to be proactive, collaborative and supportive. Dr. Threatt personally oversees the treatment of each patient in our PPCR program. With over 20 years of practice as a urologist, Dr. Threatt not only specializes in men’s health, but also urologic oncology. He has performed over a hundred prostatectomies, as well as treated and managed patients who have had Brachytherapy, External Beam Radiation Therapy and Cryotherapy. Our unique personalized medicine model allows Dr. Threatt to provide extensive time, attention and personal connection to patient in our care.
Our personalized medicine model means that we will work with you proactively and collaboratively, allowing Dr. Threatt to make real time adjustments, calibrating your personalized program based on your body’s response to our program's treatments. Patients in our PPCR program see some level sexual function improvement within three to six weeks. To ensure each patient experiences quantifiable results, we use psychometrically validated questionnaires at prescribed intervals. This allows us to not only monitor the subjective improvements, but also use scientifically validated questionnaires to measure progress throughout the program and adjust our approach to ensure you have the best possible results. Remember, time is the most important factor in the recovery of sexual function following prostate cancer treatment. Why waste another day? Reach out to us now and start your road to recovery today.
Kane Health