Because the treatments used against cancer must be very aggressive and
powerful, many patients experience unpleasant side effects. The side effects
vary from person to person. Often one patient will experience different side
effects from one treatment to the next with the same medication.
Chemotherapy drugs, unable to differentiate, damage cancer cells and healthy
cells alike. The side effects of chemo depend on which drugs are given and the
reaction of the patient’s system. Hair loss, compromised immune system,
nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, and loss of appetite are common
experiences with chemotherapy.
Most men who receive treatment continue to function sexually. There are some
drugs anti-cancer drugs that interfere with sperm production; this
affects some patients permanently, but many recover their fertility.
Patients undergoing radiation treatments may suffer extreme fatigue
and should rest as much as possible. Radiation does not affect the ability to
function sexually (except for being too tired to perform), but it does
interfere with sperm production. This is usually temporary and most patients
are fertile again within a few months.
Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are other
side effects of cancer but can usually be controlled with medication. There may
also be skin reaction in the area(s) being treated. Consult the doctor
regarding relief from any discomfort; do not apply creams or lotions without
the advice of a physician.
With regards to surgery, men with one healthy testicle are able to produce
sperm and have a normal erection. Men can also have a prosthesis
(artificial testicle) with the weight and feel of a normal testicle implanted
in the scrotum.
A man’s ability to have an erection is not affected by the removal of the
lymph nodes, but the operation can cause sterility because it interferes with
ejaculation. Some men are helped by medication and some recover the ability to
ejaculate without treatment.