Brachytherapy for penile cancer: efficacy and impact on sexual function

Penis brachytherapy (PB) remains an alternative in the cancer treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the oncologic outcomes, sexual function, and the sexual behavior of men treated by PB for a cancer of the penis.

Between 1992 and 2009, 47 patients with a cancer of the penis were treated by PB ((192)Ir), in the Toulouse, Montpellier, and Barcelona cancer centers. The investigation into their sexuality was obtained by means of questionnaire. A total of 21 French patients were approached, of whom 19 (mean age=73.2 years) agreed to answer the questionnaire (participation rate=90.5%).

Oncologic data: The specific survival and the disease-free survival at 5 years was 87.6% (95% confidence interval, 72.4-94.7%) and 84% (95% confidence interval, 57.6-94.7%), respectively. The rate of preservation of the penis was 66% (n=31). Sexual data: Among the 17 patients sexually active before brachytherapy, 10 patients remained sexually active after treatment (58.8%). Of the 18 patients who had erections before PB, 17 still had them after treatment (94.4%). Age was the main predictive factor.

The PB seems to have a moderated impact on the sexual functions and the sexual behavior of the patients.