Jon's Story

Ethnicity
White British
Age
70-79
Work
Retired
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Geography
Greater London
Relationship status
Married/In a Civil Partnership

Radiotherapy

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

I found my libido returned to some extent after several years but EDF has remained. Have tried medication and vacuum pump, all prescribed by NHS, but with limited success. I can however achieve a (dry) orgasm with pleasurable sensations on occasions

How this treatment impacted my life the most

The treatment , 37 sessions so almost 8 weeks, made be feel very tired by the end. As the treatment (with travelling time to / from hospital) took up a large part of the day, 5 days a week, it inevitably disrupted my daily life. This would have been difficult if still working full time, but I was by then self employed, working part time and often from home, so it was manageable I was required to take a self administered enema each day on arriving at hospital before the treatment which was uncomfortable but I got used to it! 2 years after the treatment I had a single sudden and alarming incident of passing blood rectally. I had felt some rectal discomfort for a week or so before this but no other warning. The discomfort disappeared immediately afterwards .A trip to A and E followed by OP assessment and a colonoscopy revealed nothing significant and it did not recur. I was told this was a not-uncommon side effect a year or two after the radiotherapy. My only complaint about the Radiotherapy was that no=one warned me this might happen! Main ongoing impact was and has remained on my sexual activity. As I am now in my mid 70s this is less significant

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

Without being over dramatic, this -alongside the hormone treatment - probably saved my life and has given me 12 good years post diagnosis so far.

Hormone Therapy (injections)

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

Not sure how much these were side effects of the hormone treatment, and how much down to the radiotherapy which I had at the same time as the beginning of the hormone treatment (which lasted three years)

Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment

After an initial injection at hospital, the treatment was carried out by nurses at my GP practice. I had to take some responsibility for ordering the medication in good time from our local pharmacy. Injections were a bit painful but all over very quickly. I think it involved quite a big needle injected into stomach fat (which I had enough of!) - I didn't look! Advised to rest for a day afterwards to prevent bleeding/bruising

How this treatment impacted my life the most

Not that much. Some anxiety but not about the treatment, more about the general situation, having been told I had an aggressive cancer so was uncertain about the future and whether the treatments would work (and, ten years on, they have so far)

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

Along with the radiotherapy, it probably saved my life, and has given me a good number of symptom free healthy life so far

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