A study on the sexual function recovery of prostate cancer patients has established variables for predicting normal sex life after their treatment.
The study published Tuesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association was conducted by researchers from the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, the world’s largest cancer center, and the Prostate Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
The study of more than 1,000 men treated for prostate cancer at different medical centers showed that there is no 100 percent chance to sexual recovery and their ability to achieve adequate erection varies depending on age, extent of his cancer and sex life before treatment.
According to the study, 35 percent of men whose prostate gland were removed surgically, 37 percent who underwent radiation therapy and 43 percent who underwent brachytherapy or the use of radioactive seed implants were able to have sexual intercourse after two years.
The predictors for erectile function in the prostatectomy group are age and prostate specific antigen (PSA) level.
In the radiation therapy group, the predictor is whether or not he has undergone hormone therapy. Those who had not undergone hormone therapy are more likely to regain erectile function.
In the brachytherapy group, age and body weight determines recovery of erectile function. The younger and lighter patients have better recovery than their older and obese counterparts.
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