LITTLE SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS

MORE than four in five men with prostate cancer struggle with poor sexual function following treatment, but over half fail to receive support, according to new research.

Scientists at Queen’s University Belfast, in collaboration with three other universities, found that sexual problems were common in prostate patients, regardless of the stage of their disease. However, more than half of over-65s were not offered support for erection problems.

The findings, which were published in the Lancet Oncology, prompted leading men’s health charities to express concerns that too many patients are left with inadequate support to deal with the impact of treatments.

And they are calling on men to have the confidence to speak out about their side-effects, and for healthcare professionals to proactively discuss post-treatment sexual problems. Campaigner Heather Blake said: ‘For some men, it can be months before any erection problems are experienced following their treatment, especially if they’ve received radiotherapy. ‘By this stage follow-up appointments may have reduced, with far fewer opportunities to raise any late side effect issues. As a result, too many are being left without any support for sexual problems — with older men in particular missing out. This simply isn’t good enough. With long-term implications including depression and relationship breakdowns, this is a side-effect that must not be swept under the carpet, no matter how old the man is or what treatment he has received.’