Erectile function – All results

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Erectile function recovery timeline

This chart shows the erectile function recovery progress of patients at three month intervals following their surgery.

Current patients can use their unique patient number to track and compare their own recovery on this chart.

Showing erectile function results at 3 month intervals for all patients

Filter these results

Study group: Index patients | Non-index patients | High risk patients | All patients
Approach: Open | Laparoscopic
Age: 40-49 | 50-59 | 60-69 | 70+

Patient no.	Study group	3 month	12 month
1	Index
2	Index
3	Index
4	Index
5	Index
6	Index
7	Index
8	Index
9	Index
10	Index
11	Index
12	Index
13	Index
14	Index
15	Index
16	Index
17	Index
18	Index
19	Index
20	Index
21	Index
22	Index
23	Index
24	Index
25	Index
26	Index
27	Index
28	Index
29	Index
30	Index
31	Index
32	Index
33	Index
34	Index
35	Index
36	Index
37	Index
38	Index
39	Index
40	Index
41	Index
42	Index
43	Index
44	Index
45	Index
46	Index
47	Index
48	Index
49	Index
50	Index
51	Index
52	Index
53	Index
54	Index
55	Index
56	Index
57	Index
58	Index
59	Index
60	Index
61	Index
62	Index
63	Index
64	Index
65	Index
66	Index
67	Index
68	Index
69	Index
70	Index
71	Index
72	Index
73	Index
74	Index
75	Index
76	Index
77	Index
78	Index
89	Index
91	Index
95	Index
109	Index
111	Index
116	Index
127	Index
129	Index
132	Index
137	Index
155	Index
161	Index
164	Index
175	Index
183	Index
192	Index
200	Index
205	Index
207	Index
222	Index
235	Index
242	Index
247	Index
252	Index
261	Index
264	Index
266	Index
267	Index
268	Index
269	Index
277	Index
280	Index
291	Index
294	Index
299	Index
303	Index
305	Index
310	Index
312	Index
314	Index
321	Index
325	Index
337	Index
339	Index
341	Index
342	Index
344	Index
345	Index
348	Index
356	Index
358	Index
363	Index
369	Index
382	Index
385	Index
386	Index
388	Index
389	Index
400	Index
403	Index
406	Index
409	Index
410	Index
425	Index
426	Index
428	Index
440	Index
445	Index
446	Index
453	Index
455	Index
457	Index
460	Index
461	Index
462	Index
463	Index
464	Index
467	Index
472	Index
474	Index
480	Index
482	Index
485	Index
495	Index
496	Index
500	Index
503	Index
507	Index
509	Index
512	Index
514	Index
515	Index
516	Index
521	Index
529	Index
531	Index
534	Index
535	Index
540	Index
542	Index
545	Index
550	Index
556	Index
557	Index
558	Index
561	Index
562	Index
563	Index
564	Index
565	Index
566	Index
567	Index
568	Index
569	Index
570	Index
571	Index
573	Index
575	Index
576	Index
577	Index
579	Index
580	Index
582	Index
585	Index
586	Index
587	Index
588	Index
589	Index
590	Index
592	Index
593	Index
595	Index
596	Index
597	Index
599	Index
601	Index
602	Index
604	Index
605	Index
606	Index
607	Index
608	Index
609	Index
610	Index
611	Index
612	Index
614	Index
615	Index
616	Index
617	Index
621	Index
622	Index
623	Index
624	Index
625	Index
626	Index
627	Index
628	Index
629	Index
630	Index
631	Index
632	Index
633	Index
637	Index
645	Index
646	Index
649	Index
666	Index
670	Index
673	Index
677	Index
679	Index
687	Index
688	Index
716	Index
722	Index
725	Index
734	Index
737	Index
742	Index
760	Index
768	Index
772	Index
773	Index
778	Index
789	Index
790	Index
794	Index
796	Index
797	Index
800	Index
801	Index
805	Index
809	Index
814	Index
819	Index
821	Index
836	Index
852	Index
856	Index
858	Index
859	Index
863	Index
865	Index
872	Index
873	Index
875	Index
877	Index
880	Index
881	Index
882	Index
884	Index
885	Index
891	Index
892	Index
893	Index
897	Index
900	Index
901	Index
902	Index
903	Index
909	Index
910	Index
920	Index
927	Index
932	Index
936	Index
941	Index
947	Index
948	Index
971	Index
972	Index
974	Index
982	Index
988	Index
989	Index
997	Index
998	Index
1009	Index
1012	Index
1013	Index
1016	Index
1019	Index
1026	Index
1028	Index
1037	Index
1038	Index
1045	Index
1046	Index
1048	Index
1049	Index
1052	Index
1059	Index
1064	Index
1066	Index
1080	Index
1087	Index
1095	Index
1096	Index
1097	Index
1099	Index
1114	Index
1115	Index
1120	Index
1121	Index
1130	Index

Raw data: erectile function results at 3 month intervals for all patients

Total number of patients: 344
Total green: 40 at 3 months, 150 at 12 months
Total light green: 73 at 3 months, 74 at 12 months
Total yellow: 40 at 3 months, 19 at 12 months
Total red: 106 at 3 months, 18 at 12 months

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Live results FAQ

Why are we recording and presenting data in this way?

This traffic light study for results is significantly different to the way research is traditionally undertaken and presented.

For the first time in the field of prostate cancer treatment, patients can individually track and compare their progress with other patients. We are using clearly measurable and understandable terms, avoiding traditional terms such as ‘erectile recovery’ which are unclear.

The traffic light study is an ongoing process – it is not a ‘snapshot’ taken from a fixed period of time. Patients and prospective patients can see how many men have taken part in the study and when the results were last updated.

Why are we focusing on erectile function and continence after prostate cancer surgery?

The primary objective of prostate cancer surgery is full and complete cancer clearance. This type of operation, the prostatectomy, is very effective for cancer clearance. The outcomes which do vary very widely however, are erectile dysfunction and incontinence as a result of this surgery. These are outcomes which matter a great deal to patients.

We are providing a clearer and more comprehensive focus on these outcomes to enable patients to understand what to expect before surgery and compare their progress after surgery. We can discuss all aspects of this operation with you but our experience from treating thousands of men is that erectile function and continence are the outcomes that matter to patients.

What do the traffic lights mean?

Erectile function
	Green: Sufficient for full sexual intercourse
	Light Green: Sufficient for masturbation /foreplay but not full sexual intercourse
	Amber: Some enlargement but not sufficient for sexual activity
	Red: No enlargement
	Grey: Awaiting response from patient

Continence
	Green: No pads (or precautionary pad only)
	Amber: One pad per day
	Red: Two or more pads per day
	Grey: Awaiting response from patient

How do we measure each patient’s status?

If a patient agrees to join the Traffic Light study, in addition to normal follow-up appointments, they are asked to complete a questionnaire every three months for a year. We use the EPIC questionnaire. This is a questionnaire which has been used extensively worldwide as the most accurate way of assessing erectile function.

Are all patients included?

Yes – all patients having a radical prostatectomy are invited to join the results centre and the vast majority do so. Patients are carefully placed into three different categories. This is because nerve-sparing depends upon the extent of your prostate cancer ie if your cancer cells are beginning to breach the wall of your prostate, the surgeon will need to take wide margins in order to achieve cancer clearance. Therefore nerve-sparing will be limited, compared with a man who has lower risk disease. We also consider erectile function before surgery because inevitably this will influence erectile recovery after surgery.

How are patients classified?

Index: a patient whose prostate cancer has not spread beyond the prostate gland itself (stage T1 or stage T2). The patient will also have good erectile function, sufficient for sexual intercourse, before surgery. There is no upper age limit to this group, although motivation and opportunity to return to sexual intercourse is important. In simple terms, index patients should have no adverse clinical factors to affect full erectile recovery. This makes the quality of nerve sparing the main outcome determing factor.

Non-index: a patient will be in this category if he does not have good quality erections before surgery, or if it is clinically inapporpriate to perform high qulaity nerve sparing because the prostate cancer is considered too aggresive or extensive. Similarly, a patient would also be considered non-index if erectile recovery is not a priority for him.

High risk: a high-risk patient has aggressive prostate cancer which may have breached the prostate gland but it is still possible to have surgery with curative intent, often including extended lymph node dissection. For this group, wide margins around the prostate are usually taken, so the risk of erectile dysfunction is higher and continence sometimes takes longer to return. Similarly patients who have had previous treatments such as HIFU, radiotherapy or TURP are included in this group.

What about patient confidentiality?

Patient confidentiality is a paramount concern. Patients who consent to join the traffic light study are given a number. The patient and clinic staff are the only ones to know which patient is ascribed a particular number. The patient can then log in with their individual number, chart their own progress and see how it compares with anonymous others.

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The Health Service Journal awards are highly regarded, attracting more than 1,000 entries this year

BPC's prostate surgery live results centre was the only finalist to be Highly Commended by the judges who were impressed with our accessible, continuously updated results system.