If you’ve been reading my blog for any period of time, you already know that I have a penchant for marking anniversaries or important dates. Today marks three years since I started my 35 sessions of salvage radiation therapy to deal with my recurrent prostate cancer.
I’m still here, and so is the cancer.
Interestingly, I’ve managed to quite successfully suppress my concerns about it for the last few months as I wait for my next PSA test in September. I can’t do anything about it, so why worry while I’m waiting, right?
Instead, I’ve been doing my best to maximize each day (although a few days, I’m a complete slug and don’t do much of anything—the perks of retirement!). I had a good trip back to the Midwest to visit family and friends at the end of May; have been taking a few local trips; and just chill with friends at my local watering hole. Life is good.
That all doesn’t mean that I’ve completely forgotten about the little bugs inside me. The treatment side effects remind me that it’s still there every day, but they’re tolerable.
My appointment with the urologist is on 30 September, so I’ll get my PSA test done a week or two in advance to allow time for the results to come in.
Until then, I’ll just keep cruising along.
Be well.
Header Image: Lake Sara, Effingham, Illinois
Dan's Journey through Prostate Cancer 
Hey Dan, I always like to get good news. Seems like you are in a good place. Nice to hear. My oncologist told me some time ago that prostate cancer is now considered a chronic condition that you live with rather than a death sentence, so here’s to happy days ahead. Cheers, Phil
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Dan, let me ask. I’m not trying to be indiscreet, but simply to assess the effects of sexual activity in the post-prostatectomy period. By the way: I underwent radical prostatectomy 21 months ago. Thank you for your attention.
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Hi,
No problem. Thanks for asking.
One key thing to remember is that there are two nerve bundles on either side of the prostate that control erections and the surgeon tries to save both of them to preserve sexual function. In my case, however, the tumor was so close to one of my nerve bundles that the surgeon removed it. That put me at a disadvantage right out of the gate.
The surgeon prescribed Cialis about 8 weeks after the surgery to help with the restoration of sexual function. One of the known side effects of Cialis is a potential impact on your vision and, shortly after starting it, I noticed my vision was going wonky. I stopped taking the Cialis to preserve my vision.
With one nerve bundle remaining, it took considerably longer for me to get any semblance of an erection. I’d have to double check my timeline, but I’m thinking it took about 18 months to two years for me to get to the point where my erections were in the 70% to 80% range, with it hitting 90% on occasion. To get to that point though, external stimulation was needed. I just couldn’t will myself an erection any longer (at that point, I was around 55 years old).
The orgasm sensation itself felt about the same as pre-surgery, but the lack of ejaculate made for a different experience. If my bladder isn’t nearly empty when I orgasm, there’s a chance a little urine may leak out as it happens.
Unfortunately, the salvage radiation therapy seems to have compounded the problem. Now, 14.5 years after the surgery and 3 years after the radiation, my erections are more in the 50% to 70% range, so there’s been some degradation.
I am not in a relationship, so sex has been a lower priority for me than others. After my experience with Cialis, I’m in no hurry to try it again. Nor do I feel the need to try something like the Trimix injections and incur the costs associated with it. If I do find myself in a relationship, then that perspective would likely change.
If it’s been 21 months for you and you have both nerve bundles in tact, I’d encourage you to have a conversation with your urologist if you’re not satisfied with your progress.
Finally, remember that each of us responded differently to our surgeries, but there are often similarities or trends between patients.
Wishing you the best,
—Dan
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