More Some Side Effects of Prostate Radiation that Oncologists Kind of Tell you About or Not; or, The Four Horseman of the Sexual Apocalypse (Part III) Penile Atrophy
Before you guys run off half-cocked (no pun intended) this particular dilemma is not universal. There have been some studies among men who have had prostate cancer that they’ve noticed penile shrinkage and not the kind we get climbing out of the pool. “Complaints were more common in men treated with radical prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate) or male hormone-blocking drugs combined with radiation therapy, according to the study by researchers from Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DF/BWCC). No men reported a perceived shortening of their penis following radiation therapy alone.” One study had “twenty-five men (2.63 percent of the group) complained of smaller penises after treatment — 3.73 percent for surgery, 2.67 percent for radiotherapy plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), and 0 percent for radiotherapy alone. Radiotherapy included both radiation administered by an external x-ray machine, and brachytherapy — the implantation of radioactive seeds directly into the prostate.” Of course, if you’re experiencing penile atrophy who gives a fuck about percentages. In none of these studies were there direct measurements of the penis size before and after treatment, but after decades of knowing one’s penis, one can have a pretty good idea if it’s the same size or not without resorted to a ruler. Personally, I had radiation with hormone therapy and I saw no change in size; however, the most incompetent thing about the issue is physicians/oncologists are well-aware of penile atrophy, but it seems to be some sort of “medical secret” and when a patient discovers it after the fact, surprise! Sexual performance after radiation or surgery is a given and the fact docs don’t forewarn men about the possibility that in addition to that you might not be playing with a full package is a travesty. Research by Paul Nguyen, MD, a radiation oncologist, has written the potential side effect of a smaller penis is well-known among physicians and surgeons, "but it's almost never discussed with patients, so it can be very upsetting to some men when it occurs. Patients can deal with almost any side effect if they have some inkling ahead of time that they may happen." Nguyen went on to say, "It's something we should be discussing up front so that it will help reduce treatment regrets." No shit.