Men who have prostate cancer surgery are more likely to
retain the ability to reach orgasm if the procedure leaves certain nerves
untouched.
This is the main conclusion from a new report from researchers at Cornell
University in New York, which assessed the 408 patients who received
robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.
Lead author of the study Dr Ashutosh Tewari, director of the Prostate Cancer
Institute at the educational establishment, said: "91 per cent of men
retained the same orgasmic function after surgery if the nerves on both sides
were cancer free and we were able to spare them."
He added that this may influence doctors and patients when making decisions
about the treatment of prostate tumours in the future, as it has been noted
that open prostatectomy can often damage these pelvic nerves.
The findings could be significant, as the cancer is the most common form of the
disease among men in the UK, states Cancer Research UK.
© Adfero Ltd
Prostate cancer treatment news : 14 February 2012
