Think outside the box about sexual activity - it does not have to involve intercourse or oral sex. Try kissing, touching, caressing to satisfy each other. Because saliva can contain chemotherapy for 48-72 hours after treatment, you should avoid open-mouth kissing during this time as this can expose your partner to the chemotherapy.
Full Answer
Can I go home immediately after CyberKnife treatment?
An Effective, Less Disruptive Treatment Option. The CyberKnife System offers a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment option that delivers proven results for a wide range of cancers and metastases. CyberKnife provides stereotactic body radiation therapy ( SBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery ( SRS ), closely related types of radiation therapy that ...
Can I combine CyberKnife and hormone therapy?
I had CyberKnife treatment in June and have had zero side effects. After CK, some men (about 4%) experience a mild degree of bowel toxicity (they have loose stools) and urinary urgency (they feel like they have to go to the toilet frequently). Both of these symptoms tend to pass within a few days or weeks of treatment.
How does CyberKnife treatment work?
The decrease in ejaculate is a normal result of radiation treatment of the prostate. What is happening is actually called "retrograde ejaculation" which is the passage of semen into the bladder instead of thru the urethra from the testes because of the damage that was done to the prostate cells following treatment.
Do you have to consult a doctor before getting a CyberKnife?
Apr 01, 2011 · Most men can have sex one to two weeks after their seed implant. Men should wear a condom for the first two months after their seed implant. 1 This break in sexual activity is also meant to allow for proper healing following the implantation procedure.
Can I have sex after radiation treatment for prostate cancer?
Can radiation affect my partner?
How does radiation affect your sex life?
How long should my husband sleep alone after radioiodine treatment?
Can you have sex while receiving radiation treatments?
Does Cyberknife cause fatigue?
The most common side effect is fatigue. Most of the time, patients are able to go back to their usual activities but will need someone to drive them home immediately after treatment. Members of our CyberKnife team can help you to arrange alternate transportation plans if needed.
How long does a cyber knife procedure last?
Anesthesia is not required, as the procedure is painless and noninvasive. Your treatment generally lasts between 30 and 90 minutes.
How to treat a syringe?
On your treatment day: 1 Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes to the procedure. Most patients do not need to wear a hospital gown. 2 Before treatment, eat regularly and continue your usual activities. 3 Take all regularly prescribed medications before the treatment. 4 Please do not wear any jewelry to your treatment; four hours prior to treatment, please do not use any moisturizers, lotions, creams, powders, or deodorant on the area to be treated. 5 Bring a family member or friend with you on treatment day. He or she can wait in the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center’s Radiation Oncology waiting area while you are receiving your treatment.
What to wear to a syringe procedure?
Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes to the procedure. Most patients do not need to wear a hospital gown. Before treatment, eat regularly and continue your usual activities. Take all regularly prescribed medications before the treatment.
How long after radiation treatment can you see a doctor?
Several months after treatment, you will see the doctors and have follow-up scans to check your response to the treatment. Follow-up imaging, generally performed with a combination of CT, MRI or PET scanning, is usually performed in the months following treatment to assess the tumor’s response to the delivered radiation.
What imaging is used to determine tumor size?
Scanning. Prior to treatment with the CyberKnife System, you will undergo imaging procedures to determine the size, shape and location of the tumor. The process begins with a standard high-resolution CT scan. For certain tumors, other imaging techniques such as MRI, angiography or PET may also be used.
Types of Prostate Cancer Treatments
For men who have undergone prostate cancer surgery, for example, many surgeons recommend avoiding sexual activity for at least several weeks (anywhere from three to six weeks) in order to allow for proper healing.
Sexual Functioning Post-Treatment and Redefining Sex
Be forewarned: Most men will experience some erectile dysfunction for the first few months after prostate cancer treatment. However, within one year after treatment, nearly all men with intact nerves will see a substantial improvement. 2 And any of the treatments mentioned above can have adverse effects on male sexual functioning.
Does radiation cause fibrosis?
The effect of age on potency preservation cannot be overemphasized. Undoubtedly, radiation can cause fibrosis in the penile artery, and fibrosis is worse in older men. But, contrary to a prevalent myth, those radiation effects occur very early.
What is the source of statistical error?
There is a source of statistical error called co-linearity, which arises when two variables, like baseline potency and age, are substantially interlinked. Although they were independently associated with erectile function, there is considerable overlap. It may be useful to separate the effect of one from the other.
Does Cyberknife work on prostate?
Unlike previous, more conventional methods of radiosurgery, CyberKnife treats tumors throughout the body – including the head, spine, lungs, prostate, liver, and pancreas. All without the need for any cutting. In some cases markers are needed for treatment purposes.
What is a cyberknife?
The CyberKnife, unlike other stereotactic radiosurgery systems, is able to locate and track the position of the tumor without the use of an invasive stereotactic head frame or stereotactic body frame. The system compensates for the patient’s respirations and movement during treatment, constantly ensuring accurate targeting for the delivery ...
What is a robotic arm?
The robotic arm is highly flexible, allowing access to tumors in difficult-to-reach locations. The CyberKnife, unlike other stereotactic radiosurgery systems, is able to locate and track the position of the tumor without the use of an invasive stereotactic head frame or stereotactic body frame. The system compensates for ...
Does Cyberknife work on prostate?
Yes it does, but the surrounding organs such as rectum and bladder will receive less radiation. Cyberknife uses over 100 radiation beams, and these beams pass through the body on the way to the prostate. These beams are all aimed at the prostate gland where they overlap giving a very high dose to the prostate.
What is a cyberknife?
2) It is a dedicated stereotactic treatment machine, unlike other machines which do both IMRT and SBRT. It does this one thing very well.
How many seeds are injected into prostate?
Once the needle has been advanced into the prostate, a marker seed is injected into the prostate gland. We inject 4 seeds, each one in a different location in the prostate. The marker seeds do not correspond to where your cancer is.
Does radiation affect the prostate?
The prostate normally produces some of the fluid in the ejaculation. After radiation, the gland tissue in the prostate will mostly disappear and become replaced with fibrous scar tissue. The prostate will shrink. It will no longer produce fluid in the ejaculation, however the sensation may still be the same.
What happens to the prostate after radiation?
After radiation, the gland tissue in the prostate will mostly disappear and become replaced with fibrous scar tissue. The prostate will shrink. It will no longer produce fluid in the ejaculation, however the sensation may still be the same.
Is SpaceOAR invasive?
It was originally used as an alternative to brain surgery, but is now used as an alternative to surgery for tumors in many parts of the body including brain, lung, liver, spine, and prostate. The only invasive part of the treatment is when the gold marker seeds and SpaceOAR gel are placed.
Does cancer affect sexual activity?
Potential Effects of Cancer Treatment on Sexual Activity. Different cancer treatments can have different effects on your sexual function. This overview will give you an idea of the potential problems that a man may experience. However, you should discuss your particular case with your care providers.
Can cancer affect sexual function?
Different cancer treatments can have different effects on your sexual function. This overview will give you an idea of the potential problems that a man may experience. However, you should discuss your particular case with your care providers. In many of these situations, a man can still feel pleasure and achieve orgasm.
What is sexuality?
Sexuality encompasses much more than sex; it includes the physical, psychological, emotional, and social aspects of sex. In the real world, this means how you see yourself, how your partner views you, how do you date after cancer, how do you fulfill your need for sexual relationships after cancer and so much more.
Does chemotherapy cause erectile dysfunction?
Chemotherapy & Hormone Therapy. Chemotherapy does not often cause erectile dysfunction, though it may affect the desire for sexual activity. Your desire may fluctuate over the course of treatment. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is designed to decrease testosterone levels or prevent your body from using testosterone.
Does hormone therapy help with prostate cancer?
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is designed to decrease testosterone levels or prevent your body from using testosterone. This can result in loss of desire for sex, erectile dysfunction, and difficulty achieving orgasm, which tends to develop slowly over the first few months of hormone therapy.
Preparing For Your Cyberknife Treatment
- Generally, you will have consultation appointments with both the surgeon and the radiation oncologist. The CyberKnife nurse coordinator will arrange for insurance preauthorizations and inform you of your dates for pretreatment tests. These tests may include blood work and a CT scan, MRI or PET scan. Men receiving prostate cancer radiation therapy can benefit from this ad…
Scanning
- Prior to treatment with the CyberKnife System, you will undergo imaging procedures to determine the size, shape and location of the tumor. The process begins with a standard high-resolution CT scan. For certain tumors, other imaging techniques such as MRI, angiography or PET may also be used.
Planning
- Following the scanning process, image data are digitally transferred to the CyberKnife system’s treatment-planning workstation. Here, the treating physician identifies the exact size, shape and location of the tumor. A qualified clinician then uses the CyberKnife software to generate a treatment plan to provide the desired radiation dose to the identified tumor location without da…
Treatment Delivery
- On your treatment day: 1. Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes to the procedure. Most patients do not need to wear a hospital gown. 2. Before treatment, eat regularly and continue your usual activities. 3. Take all regularly prescribed medications before the treatment. 4. Please do not wear any jewelry to your treatment; four hours prior to trea...
After Treatment and Follow-Up
- There are minimal side effects from CyberKnife treatment. The most common side effect is fatigue. Most of the time, patients are able to go back to their usual activities but will need someone to drive them home immediately after treatment. Members of our CyberKnife team can help you to arrange alternate transportation plans if needed. You will return soon after your treat…