What happens after testicals are removed due to cancer?? sex yes or no?

Question

Its simple yet complicated..found my soul mate..his cancer has returned (none hodgkins lymphoma) and i want to be with him no matter what..he said that they might have to remove his testicals as an option of treatment..i dont know much about life after such surgery,but only because i only care if he is healthy it didnt faze me when he told me this ...but in order to better understand his distress i need to know from people who have had such a surgery to tell me..what is life like after? in any way..THANK YOU

Answer 1

I would think that having the testicals removed would basically be castration. This would remove the guys ability to create the level of testosterone his body is used to. So there would be many changes in store for him. From the softening and possible lightening of body hair, to a lowered or non existent libido. However I do believe that there are hormone replacement therapies available for men as well as other solutions to allow for sex after surgery.

http://www.steadyhealth.com/removal_of_testicals_t60959.html
A discussion board to get you started.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castration
You may find the section about medical consequences helpful.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AiTr1DfVY.J9fiJNA6Od9MUdzKIX
A book you might find helpful. I skimmed through the description and it has this "castrated in adulthood is often perfectly capable of sex." So there may be other pertinent information in this book.

"Either surgical castration (orchiectomy) or medical castration (hormonal drug therapy) can produce a striking response. Both approaches cause tumors and lymph nodes to shrink and PSA levels to fall. However, both castration methods can cause hot flashes, impotence, and a loss of interest in sex. Medical castration by treatment with hormonal drug therapy can cause breast enlargement and can increase a man's risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks and strokes."
This is quoted directly from: http://www.lycos.com/info/castration--sex.html
And is possibly the only helpful information they offer since most of the sources quoted deal with castration as a punishment for rapist.

Since you say he is your soul mate and you want to be with him no matter what, I suggest you find and join support groups specifically for his form of cancer. You will need to know what the possibilities are and be able to handle the different emotions that your mate will be going through (and the emotions with in yourself) effectively.

I think in some cases the ability to have sex is more important to the guy then it is to the lady, so tread softly and carefully with your partners concerns in this department. There is more to sex then intercourse, just as there is more to romance then lighting some candles, or saying "I Love You".

You in a tough spot. I wish you the best.

Answer 2

Yes. Especially with testerone replacement therapy (IM or topical). Obviously fathering a child in the normal fashion would no longer apply. Strongly consider sperm banking at this time. Down the road he could consider having testicular prothesis placed (silcon).

Answer 3

Yes, you'll still be able to have sex. Due to the radiation, surgery, etc. he may be sterile. This would have to be checked by his physician.

Answer 4

you won't really find that answer hwere. i suggest finding a website for this type of cancer. also, look for a chat room for survivors of it.