Prostate cancer and intimacy: Were your relationships impacted by your diagnosis?

Prostate cancer can mentally, emotionally, and physically impact the individual diagnosed with prostate cancer. The initial feelings experienced upon diagnosis; the financial stress; the physical and mental exhaustion; and the changes in roles, responsibilities, and physical and emotional/mental needs, may consequently impact relationships with spouses/partners, family members, friends, and colleagues.

In this discussion, members - individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer, family members, and friends - are encouraged to share their experiences and stories on how prostate cancer has affected their relationships, share advice, and give support.

Hello - my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer and is contemplating undergoing surgery. He is going through a lot with this diagnosis and besides being scared/worried, it is impacting his work and relationship currently with his live-in girlfriend... I think a lot of it stems from him being unsure of the prognosis and success of the surgery, as well as the financial burden for treatment and recovery.

Would love to hear from anyone else going through something similar..

Hi everyone,

I have prostate cancer and I'm curious/nervous if it will affect my sex life when I'm done with treatment...

Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks

@PTaylor16 Hello PTaylor16, thank you for your comment. We just published an article about prostate cancer and intimacy that summarizes the available treatment options for erectile dysfunction cause by prostate cancer treatments: Intimacy after prostate cancer: Solutions do exist!

Feel free to have a read and let us know what you think!

Hi everyone, have you seen this older discussion? Has prostate cancer had an impact on your intimate relationships? How have you coped with it? Have you tried any of the treatments mentioned in the article?
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Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences here!

Take care,
Courtney

Hi PTaylor16

It depends on what kind of treatment you have. When I was diagnosed I had he choice of 30 days or radiation  or 5 days of heavy radiation. I took the 5 as 30 days seemed like along time at the time. I was on catheters for a while and today 2 years later still wear pads for urine leaks. I can get erections and have sex, not as strong erections but i am also 78 years old. Maybe someone who had the surgery will answer you here with their sexual experience. Feel free to ask me anything you want

@PTaylor16 I agree with @looper , I think it depends on the treatment. I did radiation and then hormone therapy (which I finished last year), and I'm still dealing with ED. 

@jonlo11 Hi, I did not have hormone therapy, it was not brought up by my doctor. Hopefully it will help you with you ED issues