Impotence or erectile dysfunction stemming from prostate cancer treatment is a common side effect, regardless of whether the treatment involved surgery or radiation therapy, according to the American Cancer Society.
Impotence
Impotence occurs when a man experiences difficulty either maintaining or acquiring an erection. The American Cancer Society reports that impotence slowly worsens over time after men receive radiation therapy. On the other hand, impotence resulting from surgery tends to improve over time.
Risks
The chance of recovering from symptoms of impotence originating from prostate cancer treatment depends on the patient's age, the degree of cancer, the quality of erections before treatment and the surgeon's skill, according to the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center. Men over the age of 70 have the worst chance of recovering from impotency, while men in their forties have the best prognosis.
Treatments
Treatments for impotence following prostate cancer treatments include prescription medications such as Viagra or Cialis, vacuum devices and penile implants.
