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Management of erectile dysfunction secondary to treatment for localized prostate cancer
1Department of Urology, Fund Fac Federal Ciencias Medicas, cep 90480-003, Porto Alegre, Brazil. cteloken@hotmail.com
Background:
Management options for localized prostate cancer include radical prostatectomy, external radiation therapy, brachytherapy, and watchful waiting. Improvements in treatment techniques have resulted in fewer side effects. Nevertheless, long-term complications such as erectile dysfunction (ED) continue to affect a significant percentage of men treated for prostate cancer and can have a distressing and debilitating effect on the patient's quality of life.
Methods:
The author reviews both the prevalence and the current options for the management of ED secondary to treatment for clinically localized prostate cancer.
Results:
The ability to preserve potency after prostate cancer treatment is controversial, with reports ranging from 10%-90%. For patients complaining of impotence, efficacious alternatives are available such as oral drugs, intraurethral alprostadil, vacuum devices, intracavernous injections, and penile prostheses.
Conclusions:
Sexual function is an integral part of patient satisfaction and quality of life. Although ED is a frequent complication of definitive treatment of localized prostate cancer, a variety of treatment options are now available to maximize quality of life despite age and other comorbidities.