ABSTRACT
Over 1,200,000 new cases of invasive cancer will be diagnosed in the United States each year (1-3). A discussion of the effects of cancer and cancer therapy on erectile function is relevant as more than half of these patients are men-many of whom are of reproductive age and almost all will be interested in continuing sexual function. In published studies using quality of life (QOL) questionnaires, over 80% of men afflicted with cancer consider future reproductive and sexual function to be a principal concern (4). Additionally, female sexual dysfunction is currently being studied, with a new focus on the physiologic events of female sexual function. Unfortunately, the majority of cancer care providers do not appreciate the significant effects that cancer and cancer therapy have on sexual function. The surgical, chemotherapeutic, and ionizing radiation therapy used to treat cancer can adversely influence erectile, sexual, and reproductive function (5-8). As discussed in earlier chapters (see Chapters 3, 4, and 5). significant basic science and clinical research performed in the past decade has led to a better understanding of the mechanism of erection and sexual function at the organ, cellular, and molecular level. Research into centrally mediated mechanisms of sexual function has also shed new light into sexual physiology of both men and women. New directed developments in clinical research have led to effective local and systemic treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED). This directed approach to the evaluation and treatment of sexual dysfunction should be extended to treat sexual and erectile dysfunction in patients with cancer.
