When Steve Jones was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years...

When Steve Jones was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago, at the age of 56, his immediate focus was survival. But after undergoing a Radical Robotic Prostatectomy (RRP) to remove his diseased prostate, he faced another equally daunting challenge – the loss of erectile function. Despite knowing this was a possible outcome, the reality hit hard.

 

“You wake up from surgery, and a fundamental part of your identity just isn’t working anymore,” he explains. “The doctors can tell you it might happen, but there’s no way to truly prepare for that moment. It affects your confidence, your relationships, your day-to-day interactions. Even simple intimacy, like hugging or kissing, becomes charged with anxiety and uncertainty.”

 

Even with a family history of prostate cancer – both his father and younger brother are survivors – nothing could fully prepare him for the diagnosis and its long-term repercussions.

 

“Most men aren’t prepared for how erectile dysfunction impacts their whole sense of self. It’s not just about sex – it challenges how you see yourself as a man, as a partner, as a person. Nobody really talks about that part.”

 

Post-surgery recovery brought challenges that tested both body and spirit. The physical demands were relentless, but it was the psychological impact that proved equally overwhelming.

 

“There’s this profound sense of loss that you’re not really prepared for. Your body isn’t responding the way it used to, and you have to find the courage to start from scratch,” he explains.

 

Steve’s journey to regain erectile function became an all-consuming mission. He tried everything available – injections into the penis, vacuum pumps, oral medications – each step demanding physical courage and emotional resilience.