Reversing Erectile Dysfunction and Urinary Incontinence After Prostatectomy or Radiotherapy: The Stanley...

Although prostatectomy and radiotherapy yield excellent- long term survival rates for men with prostate cancer, adverse effects (erectile dysfunction and/or urinary incontinence with subsequent undesired lifestyle modifications, anxiety about the loss of intimacy, negative self-perception, and the effects of such stressors on work performance and family relationships) frequently afflict patients who have undergone these procedures. Surgeons who specialize in the treatment of prostate cancer are dedicated to ensuring the optimal clinical result but often do not provide information about the likelihood of experiencing those sequelae or the additional support and aftercare necessary to ensure posttreatment sexual and urologic function to their patients' satisfaction. In response to the needs of these underserved patients, the authors designed the Stanley Prostate-cancer Treatment Protocol for erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. The goal of the Stanley Protocol is to achieve an improved outcome after surgery or radiation therapy for prostate cancer via comprehensive therapy, patient monitoring, and detailed training. Each Protocol program is customized to address the individual patient's needs as he attains his desired level of sexual function and urinary control. Feedback consistently indicates that patients who participate in the Stanley Protocol achieve those goals, and the authors suggest that this program can be incorporated into any compounding practice to provide the same result. In this article, the most common questions that compounders ask about the Stanley Protocol are answered, an outline of that therapeutic guideline is presented, and formulations proven to optimize the outcome of prescribed treatment are provided.