Men diagnosed with prostate cancer earned the dubious distinction of being identified as the group least likely to treat their erectile dysfunction. In a 2013 study, Brian Helfand, MD, PhD, an assistant clinical professor of urology at Northshore University Health System and the University of Chicago reviewed the medical records of more than six million men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. Among those diagnosed with prostate cancer, he found only 15% of the men given a prescription for ED medication actually filled their prescription, which means 85% did not.

Those dismal statistics are about the men who actually went for help. It doesn’t include the group of men who don’t seek help. If you add in the number of men who refuse to get help, you are left with the inescapable conclusion that the overwhelming majority of men with prostate cancer, who also are coping with ED, do not get any form of treatment for their erectile dysfunction.

This is bad news since ED affects a man’s self esteem, confidence, manhood, relationship with his partner, and also his performance at work.

I was in the small group of men who decided to aggressively treat their ED, I used the following:

• A vacuum pump
  
• A variety of ED medications at various dosages
• Penile Injections
• Testosterone

I did not try:

• Muse

Here are two links that may help you get started on the journey to treat and overcome erectile dysfunction:
Nine Popular Ways to Treat ED
Dealing With Erectile Dysfunction  

Four years after double nerve sparing surgery, and active participation in penile rehabilitation , I flunked out. I was told I’d be impotent for the rest of my life. I was seriously depressed before we reached the parking lot to drive home. This leaves me to wonder if depression, and feeling helpless, are major factors that discourage other men to seek treatment for erectile dysfunction.

If you hate living with ED, as most men do, don’t let prostate cancer win. DO SOMETHING! Take back what treating prostate cancer took away from you. When all of my treatment options failed, my rehab specialist failed to tell me about an option that works when all other treatment options fail.

It’s an option that most men don’t know about, or get frightened once they hear about it. It’s called penile implant surgery. Penile Implants have the highest user and partner satisfaction rates. Medicare and many private insurance companies will pay for this surgery.

Will you accept the challenge to see your physician, your urologist, or cancer treatment center in order to discuss the most effective way to treat your erectile dysfunction?

Why live with ED, if you don’t have to?

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Note: Prostate Cancer News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Prostate Cancer News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to prostate cancer.