Body image and sexuality after treatment for prostate cancer
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Body image and sexuality after treatment for prostate cancer
It is normal to experience anger, frustration, or disappointment following treatment for prostate cancer.
Treatment can damage normal tissue and cause side effects, such as bladder problems and erection problems, that can change your quality of life.
It is not unusual to feel confusion, anxiety, guilt, stress, or depression because of the changes in your body. These psychological factors are often most troublesome after treatment ends.
Often the stress of being diagnosed with cancer and the treatment that follows can cause stress in other areas of your life. This stress can cause problems within your sexual relationships. Men who do not have partners often stop dating altogether because they feel that a potential partner might reject them because of their history of cancer.
These problems are not unusual and can be solved. Your doctor can refer you to organizations that can offer support and information. Talk openly about your concerns with your partner. If you are having problems being intimate with your partner, discuss this with your doctor. You may also contact your local chapter of the American Cancer Society to help you find a support group. Talking with other people who may have had similar feelings can be very helpful.
Credits
| Author | Kathe Gallagher, MSW |
| Author | Ralph Poore |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Renée Spengler, RN, BSN |
| Associate Editor | Michele Cronen |
| Associate Editor | Terrina Vail |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology |
| Last Updated | July 24, 2006 |
| Last updated: | July 24, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Ralph Poore |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology |
| Editors: | Renée Spengler, RN, BSN, Terrina Vail |
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