Is prostate cancer affecting your sex life?

Keep in mind that any sexual issues from your prostate cancer treatment also can affect your partner. "A man's partner can become frustrated and stressed from a sudden and sometimes long-term change in sex life, too," says oncologist Dr. Mark Pomerantz of Harvard's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

He recommends that couples seek out counseling, either alone or together, to help both address concerns and formulate a strategy that helps everyone. This approach is quite successful. A 2011 study in the journal Cancer found that prostate cancer patients and their partners improved their sexual satisfaction and function after couples counseling and sex therapy.

"Managing prostate cancer is difficult for many men," says Dr. Pomerantz. "Knowing how it may cross over to other parts of their life, especially their sexual one, can help in the decision-making process."