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Is this true?

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 8 9:26pm | Replies (47)

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@scottbeammeup

Thanks. I guess I'm somewhat of a hypocrite for saying to friends that the gay community places too much emphasis on sex when here I am doing it myself. My own observation over the years, though, has been that IN GENERAL men, gay or straight, have much more interest in sex than women and a much easier time of separating sex from love (though both together are mind-blowing).

Your suggestion about being a peer counselor is intriguing. I'm not ready mentally yet for sure but I've done that kind of thing in the past. I was a volunteer for hospice during the AIDS epidemic and would just sit and be present with guys whose families had rejected them, and until this year did some volunteer work helping young gay people whose parents kicked them out to find housing, etc. and not end up homeless or taken advantage of by sexual predators.

My core issue is I just have a hard time surrendering control. At work I'm a manager, in my volunteer work I'm always helping someone else and it feels strange to be on the receiving end asking others for help and support when I've always been the one who has GIVEN that help and support.

Thanks for listening.

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Replies to "Thanks. I guess I'm somewhat of a hypocrite for saying to friends that the gay community..."

Yes, that makes sense. There's no hypocrisy involved -- your needs are your needs. And when you're used to being the guy who's helping, it's very hard suddenly to find yourself as the one needing help.

I had to give up almost all control at first. The cancer damaged my spine so badly that I couldn't even sit up in my hospital bed, so nurses and nursing aids were taking care of my most-personal bodily functions. When I got home, I was a bit more mobile, but my spouse still had to dispose of the bag in the commode chair and empty my urinal bottles for the first couple of months, until I was more comfortable using a walker and we installed a stairlift to the basement bathroom. For a guy who was used to thinking of himself as the strong one everyone else leaned on for support, it was a tough adjustment suddenly being 100% dependent on others.

Also, on a personal note, after radiation and the first couple of years on ADT (which I'm still on), I did gain the ability to have a (dry) orgasm again, though only a partial erection. I haven't tried a vacuum pump yet, but my spouse and I are talking about options now (baby steps).