Not being able to have sex after prostate cancer is among a man’s biggest fear. That’s understandable because the most common complaint for about eight out of ten men after prostate cancer treatment is erectile dysfunction.
While you may have short-term issues after prostate cancer treatment, often times that go away – especially – and here’s the key — if you have the right treatment, according to the prostate cancer experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami.
CyberKnife is cutting-edge radiation technology also known as stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT. It can kill prostate cancer with precise, pinpointed accuracy, and it leaves the surrounding healthy tissue unharmed, greatly reducing the risk of side effects like ED.
We know a fulfilling sex life post prostate cancer is important for our patients, that’s why CyberKnife is often the right treatment.
“After watching my two brothers suffer tough side effects following prostate cancer surgery, I didn’t want to risk it and instead chose a non-invasive treatment, CyberKnife Radiation Therapy,” said Antonio, one of CyberKnife Miami’s prostate cancer patients.
Prostate Cancer Treatment and Sexual Dysfunction
According to WebMD the reason there is such a strong connection between sexual function and prostate cancer is because the prostate is right near vital nerves, blood vessels and muscles that help a man have an erection.
Treatments for prostate cancer – like surgery and some other forms of radiation can damage the areas and make erections and orgasms more difficult. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer also lowers a man’s testosterone levels, which reduces his sex drive, but CyberKnife is different.
The radiation from CyberKnife stays focused on the tumor with less risk of harming healthy tissue like the anus or testicles. There is also a reduced risk of impotence and urinary incontinence. Sexual function remains the same for most patients after treatment.
“There’s a general thought among surgeons that surgery is better for men under age 60 because radiation’s long-term effects may cause problems years later, like impotence and incontinence, but that’s not what research is proving,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, CyberKnife Miami’s medical director, board-certified radiation oncologist. “Surgery has long term effects too. CyberKnife has few side effects. Its pinpoint radiation beams deliver 100% of the radiation only to the prostate so we can give a much higher dose with a lot fewer treatments, leaving healthy surrounding tissue unharmed.”
Most patients tolerate CyberKnife very well, with cure rates of up to 98% for more than a decade.
CyberKnife treatments can be done in five therapy sessions over 10 days instead of 42 to 45 treatments in three months with other types of radiation treatments. Side effects of CyberKnife may include tiredness, and urinary and rectal irritation. Medication can help minimize these, and they usually go away in a few weeks. And there’s no risk of infection like there is with surgery. There is also a lower risk of toxicity than with traditional radiation.
According to a 2015 study, for prostate cancer patients treated with CyberKnife, erectile function preservation compared favorably to data following radical prostatectomy, a radiation therapy called brachytherapy or conventional radiation treatments.
“It’s been nine years since I was treated for prostate cancer. I’m still cancer-free and have no complaints. I wish more men knew about CyberKnife. Don’t just do what your doctor tells you, do your homework, learn all your treatment options,” says Joe, another CyberKnife Miami patient.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Miami
At the CyberKnife Center of Miami, we have treated many prostate cancer patients in the South Florida area and from other parts of the country and even from around the world with excellent results.
When it comes to choosing a treatment center, you want to choose a center like CyberKnife Miami with a proven track record of success.
If you would like to find out more about prostate cancer treatment with CyberKnife, call us at 305-279-2900 or go to our prostate cancer website now for more information. www.prostatecancertreatmentmiami.com.