Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Radiotherapy is a curative option that is administered via external beam radiation, brachytherapy, or in combination. Sexual dysfunction is a common toxicity following radiotherapy, similar to men undergoing radical prostatectomy, but the etiology is different. The pathophysiology of radiation-induced sexual dysfunction is multi-factorial, and the toxicity is a major cause of impaired quality of life among long-term prostate cancer survivors. Management of a patient's sexual function during and after radiotherapy requires multidisciplinary coordination of care between radiation oncology, urology, psychiatry, pharmacy, and dermatology. This review provides a framework for clinicians to better understand prostatic radiotherapy-induced sexual dysfunction diagnosis, evaluation, and a patient-centered approach to toxicity preventive strategies and management.
Keywords: Ejaculatory dysfunction; Erectile dysfunction; Intracavernosal Injections; Orgasmic dysfunction; PDE-5i; Penile Vibratory stimulation; Penile prosthesis; Prostate cancer; Radiation therapy; Sexual Toxicities; Vacuum erection device.
© 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Greater Poland Cancer Centre.