Side effect of Radiation +ADT Orgovyx on Sexual function

Posted by Guerri2024 @guerri2024, Aug 16 2:14am

Can anyone tell me if the combined treatement of radiation and ADT can cause some problem on the sexual function. If so, what to do to deal with it. Is there anything else other than viagra or cialis? I heard people saying that radiation usually does not cause any ED like surgery but other people believe that ED will obviously occur.

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Profile picture for jime51 @jime51

I’ll add diarrhea to the side effects list, 3-4 times daily for me. If I take Imodium immediately, I have one fewer episode.

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This is the reason they developed SpaceOAR and similar products. They are to protect the rectum so it doesn’t get radiated. While they latest techniques minimize that issue, it’s obvious that they have not resolved it in all cases.

I have heard of this problem from other people, but it is not a common problem. On the other hand, the urinary tract problems are pretty common.

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Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

This is the reason they developed SpaceOAR and similar products. They are to protect the rectum so it doesn’t get radiated. While they latest techniques minimize that issue, it’s obvious that they have not resolved it in all cases.

I have heard of this problem from other people, but it is not a common problem. On the other hand, the urinary tract problems are pretty common.

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Yes, I had SpaceOAR and each radiation treatment was done with full bladder and immediately prior CT imaging via the same machine. One of the side effects listed for Orgovyx is diarrhea, so I'm definitely hoping this isn't because of rectal damage. My radiation was delayed a few weeks so the SpaceOAR was at its time limit for effectiveness, but the radiation oncologist assured me it would still be intact throughout treatment.

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Profile picture for jime51 @jime51

Yes, I had SpaceOAR and each radiation treatment was done with full bladder and immediately prior CT imaging via the same machine. One of the side effects listed for Orgovyx is diarrhea, so I'm definitely hoping this isn't because of rectal damage. My radiation was delayed a few weeks so the SpaceOAR was at its time limit for effectiveness, but the radiation oncologist assured me it would still be intact throughout treatment.

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Again, “everybody is different” shows up in your symptoms. I never had diarrhea from orgovyx and it’s apparently not a very common side effect. Over at the weekly ancan.org Advanced prostate cancer online meetings People are encouraged to switch to Orgovyx. I’ve not heard of anyone having multiple cases of diarrhea And there are dozens of people there that have switched.

I suspect it’s just a combination of the radiation and the Orgovyx. Hopefully this will settle down over the next few months and you’ll get back to normal.

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Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

Again, “everybody is different” shows up in your symptoms. I never had diarrhea from orgovyx and it’s apparently not a very common side effect. Over at the weekly ancan.org Advanced prostate cancer online meetings People are encouraged to switch to Orgovyx. I’ve not heard of anyone having multiple cases of diarrhea And there are dozens of people there that have switched.

I suspect it’s just a combination of the radiation and the Orgovyx. Hopefully this will settle down over the next few months and you’ll get back to normal.

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I had some diarrhea during my radiation treatment but it mostly cleared up pretty quickly after the treatment was over. Didn't have any issues before so don't think Orgovyx was the culprit. Still have some minor issues (gas and maybe going more often than before) but nothing debilitating. I had the balloon as my tumor was placed such that gel was not an option.

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Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

Again, “everybody is different” shows up in your symptoms. I never had diarrhea from orgovyx and it’s apparently not a very common side effect. Over at the weekly ancan.org Advanced prostate cancer online meetings People are encouraged to switch to Orgovyx. I’ve not heard of anyone having multiple cases of diarrhea And there are dozens of people there that have switched.

I suspect it’s just a combination of the radiation and the Orgovyx. Hopefully this will settle down over the next few months and you’ll get back to normal.

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Thanks. I suspect it's a bit like gynecomastia, which they report as affecting < 10% of patients. I've been concerned about that, too, but I trust my wife's analysis that it's more likely just the result of weight gain since diagnosis. In the meantime, I'll make sure to know where the restrooms are wherever I go, because the urge hits like a freight train. I do echo some others' comments that some side effects seem to worsen over time.

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A couple of things from radiation might impact ED: radiation to the nerve bundles and radiation to the penile bulb. Various studies show that if radiation to the penile bulb is avoided the risk of ED is minimized. (https://www.smsna.org/patients/news/radiation-to-penile-bulb-might-result-in-severe-ed-study-suggests)

As for ED due to the ADT, the ADT killed my libido, but we kept doing it anyway - I never experienced ED. My medical oncologist advised me that though the libido will be gone and the “want to” won’t be there, to “do it” anyway. I was told that it’s a “use it or lose it” scenario, and it’s best to keep the blood flowing down there. So my wife and I did.

If you do have severe ED, there’s a seminar out of Stanford University that might provide you some remedies: —> “Penile Rehab: Optimizing Recovery of Erectile Function after Prostate Cancer Treatment” —> https://youtu.be/aRp1NXjPGLE?si=VyF2ALSgU1J5r4OI

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