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| Prostate cancer 'damages sex life' | Prostate cancer 'damages sex life' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Around 160,000 men in the UK have been left with little or no sex life after treatment for prostate cancer, the Macmillan Cancer Support charity says. | Around 160,000 men in the UK have been left with little or no sex life after treatment for prostate cancer, the Macmillan Cancer Support charity says. |
| It suggested rising cancer rates meant cases could more than double by 2030. | It suggested rising cancer rates meant cases could more than double by 2030. |
| Yet many patients could be helped if more services were available on the NHS, it said. | Yet many patients could be helped if more services were available on the NHS, it said. |
| Erectile dysfunction is a potential side-effect of surgery, radiotherapy and hormone therapy used to treat the condition. | Erectile dysfunction is a potential side-effect of surgery, radiotherapy and hormone therapy used to treat the condition. |
| More than 40,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year. | More than 40,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year. |
| In some there may be permanent nerve damage, meaning they cannot maintain an erection. | |
| In others the physical problem can be temporary while for some the treatment has led to a psychological barrier to sex. | In others the physical problem can be temporary while for some the treatment has led to a psychological barrier to sex. |
| Two in three prostate cancer patients say they are unable to get an erection. | Two in three prostate cancer patients say they are unable to get an erection. |
| Macmillan said men also needed to feel they could seek help when they were having problems with sex after their treatment. | Macmillan said men also needed to feel they could seek help when they were having problems with sex after their treatment. |
| 'Lonely journey' | 'Lonely journey' |
| Jim Andrews, 63, a prostate cancer survivor from London, said his first reaction to his diagnosis of the disease was that it would kill him. | Jim Andrews, 63, a prostate cancer survivor from London, said his first reaction to his diagnosis of the disease was that it would kill him. |
| "The thought of libido-killing drugs and sexual dysfunction still seemed minor in comparison to the alternative. | "The thought of libido-killing drugs and sexual dysfunction still seemed minor in comparison to the alternative. |
| "By the time I realised I was likely to survive, my sex life had been destroyed. I was devastated. | "By the time I realised I was likely to survive, my sex life had been destroyed. I was devastated. |
| "It was not a subject that any professional talked to me about. It's been a lonely journey as no-one talks about it." | "It was not a subject that any professional talked to me about. It's been a lonely journey as no-one talks about it." |
| Professor Jane Maher, chief medical officer of Macmillan Cancer Support, said the figures showed that this was a major problem facing patients after their treatment and not enough was being done. | |
| "The sheer volume of men affected shows the need for careful discussions before treatment. | "The sheer volume of men affected shows the need for careful discussions before treatment. |
| "Many can be helped through early intervention and better support for men living with or beyond prostate cancer," she said. | "Many can be helped through early intervention and better support for men living with or beyond prostate cancer," she said. |
| The charity wants to see specialist nurses, better psychological support and physiotherapists more widely available to prostate cancer patients. | The charity wants to see specialist nurses, better psychological support and physiotherapists more widely available to prostate cancer patients. |
| It says men should also be encouraged to seek help from their GP when they are having problems. | |
| Dr Daria Bonanno, a consultant clinical psychologist funded by the charity, said: "For many men with prostate cancer there is a certain stigma attached to talking about erectile dysfunction. | Dr Daria Bonanno, a consultant clinical psychologist funded by the charity, said: "For many men with prostate cancer there is a certain stigma attached to talking about erectile dysfunction. |
| "Many may feel a sense of loss of masculinity and sadness around the inability to sustain an erection and will be reluctant to seek support. | "Many may feel a sense of loss of masculinity and sadness around the inability to sustain an erection and will be reluctant to seek support. |
| "This can often cause them to emotionally isolate themselves from their partners and could make the issues worse." | "This can often cause them to emotionally isolate themselves from their partners and could make the issues worse." |