5 Tips to Optimize Your Post-Prostate Cancer Recovery
Nov 02, 2023
Prostate cancer is common, affecting about 13 out of every 100 people with a prostate at some point. If you’ve been treated for the disease, your decision to get that care is commendable and potentially life-saving. But you might notice your sex life isn’t what it used to be — even if prostate cancer is a thing of the past.
At Kane Health, serving the Silicon Valley, Redwood City, and the San Francisco Bay area of California, our experts take a holistic and personalized approach to helping you regain sexual health after prostate cancer treatment.
If you’re concerned about sexual function following your treatment, read on to learn about sex-related challenges, plus practical ways to manage them.
Your prostate gland is located near blood vessels, nerves, and muscles that help you achieve and maintain erections, all of which can be damaged by prostate cancer surgery and radiation. Furthermore, if your treatment involves hormone therapy, you could end up with low testosterone levels. These factors can interfere with sexual function, causing changes such as:
These issues may fuel sexual performance anxiety, which makes firm erections and desire for sex even less likely.
Sometimes, sexual side effects from prostate cancer treatment gradually improve without treatment. However, these issues often carry on for some time, potentially becoming permanent. A chronic health issue, such as diabetes or vascular disease, increases your odds of lingering sexual challenges.
To optimize your post-prostate cancer sexual health recovery, consider these tips:
Firm erections and penis size aren’t required for pleasurable sex. In fact, many men can experience orgasm without an erection. You can also take this opportunity to explore other types of intimate play, such as focusing on outercourse or sex that doesn’t rely on penetration.
Depending on the type of prostate cancer treatment, oral medication may significantly improve blood flow and minimize ED. These medications successfully restore function for 75% of men who’ve undergone nerve-sparing prostatectomies or precise forms of radiation.
Our Kane Health programs include proprietary medications micro-dosed to your specific body chemistry.
If micro plaque in your blood vessels interferes with your sexual function, acoustic wave therapy can help. This minimally invasive treatment uses gentle sound waves to break up the plaque while inducing a healing response in your body that stimulates the growth of healthier blood vessels.
Treatment that focuses on just one symptom or aspect of your health can miss the source of your symptoms. Holistic programs address your health with a broader view. Our team personalizes your treatment, ensuring your unique needs are met.
This is essential when treating ED, given that numerous health conditions — including heart disease — can fuel erection challenges.
Embarrassment keeps many men from seeking sexual health care, but there’s no shame in experiencing sex-related challenges. Your sexual health is a critical aspect of your overall health and well-being and is well worth attention.
At our office, Dr. Threatt applies his over 20 years of experience in urology and prostate cancer care to his patient programs. In other words, he’s comfortable discussing and treating sexual health concerns.
To learn more about post-prostate cancer recovery or find out which treatments may be ideal for you, call Kane Health or request an appointment through our website today.