erections after prostate cancer

[ft8790]

Has anyone regained erections after prostate cancer treatment? There's a youtuber that said he regained full recovery of erections 3 months after robotic nerve sparing surgery. Is there hope?

[Lost Sheep]

It is possible. Rates vary, largely depending on the treatment.

[bldoink]

Yes, there are guys that regain their previous function. Please bear in mind that those that have regained their previous natural function aren't likely to be found on this forum. Why would they hang out on here? Pretty much by definition they wouldn't really qualify.

[ft8790]

Thanks

[ftwabeck3533]

My RRP was in Oct 2018. I have performed daily penile rehab exercises to get blood into the tissue and discourage atrophy. Results were "typical" (this is where we men get really tripped up, what is "typical"?). I still take 20mg sildenafil daily; exception being days I inject Trimix (do not like to mix the two medications). I have not regained pre-surgery erection quality without the medications. I am a firm (pardon the pun) believer in the what Trimix can do for a man's self-esteem and sex life. My very supportive wife would agree. I may be seeing some "awakening" of the nerves. Where 100mg sildenafil was a bust for the first few months, I now have achieved penetrable erections with 40mg; nowhere near the 100% firmness with Trimix. Still a glimmer of hope though.

Back to "typical" experiences with overcoming ED challenges after a prostatectomy. The following quote is from a notable Urologist specializing in sexual recovery:

"Also know that only approximately 60% of patients with PCa ever return to pre-treatment function regardless of the modality chosen."

This is a very powerful statement, and in my opinion, the least understood fact for men to hear, learn, and comprehend before and after having their prostate removed. I am interpreting modality as: A form of application or employment of a therapeutic agent or regimen.

It follows that 40% of men will never experience an erection after the prostate is removed, with or without medication. It also is interpreted to mean, 60% of the guys will be capable of achieving an erection (if they were capable before surgery) and this may require pills, injections, VEDs, implants (these being the four "modalities").

Prior to surgery, and for a few months afterward, I for one thought that 60% of men would overcome ED following surgery, without the use of a "regimen" (i.e., naturally) -- and it may take one to two years for this goal to be realized. Wrong!

Interested in all your thoughts on these comments.

[stubby]

regained nothing !!!

[bldoink]

As I stated previously, The success stories (read return to natural erections) will not be found on this forum so don't expect to read of many here.

Some of you guys are not being very supportive to a guy needing support. Whats with that?

"Also know that only approximately 60% of patients with PCa ever return to pre-treatment function regardless of the modality chosen."

I would understand modality to refer to the method of cancer treatment and not the recovery method used. The OP seems to have been treated with a method that is less likely to cause nerve damage so he may well be more likely to be in that good 60%.

[lmspca]

Did you have HIFU only, I have not read much about that treatment. I'm 57, had two forms of radiation about a year ago. I still get erections no problem, but it's not like it was before. Hoping it might get better before it gets worse as the seeds will be 100% used up in a month.

[oldbeek]

The average healing time with RP is 24 months according to Dr Mulhall. Average,, maybe 1 yr, maybe 3 yrs.

[Toronto67]

It is possible, before my RP I interviewed three patients who had the same robotic surgery, none of them were able to get back their erections, one of them started with injections and then moved to pills without problems, another still using injections 3 years after his RP.

In my case, I tried pills but they didnot work, injections were a big no for me, I hated the idea of injecting my little friend before sex, it kills the mood, so I went straight for a 3 piece implant and I am very happy with my decision.

The important thing to keep in mind, it will be challenging but today you have several options, be positive, concentrate on beating cancer, that is the main goal, everything else will be fixed one way or another, it will take time but you will get there.