In this issue of Our Voice, Dr. Reinhold Vieth and PhD candidate Dennis Wagner, researchers in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto, update us on the role of vitamin D in bone and overall health, as well as its significance for men diagnosed with cancer prostate. The connection between vitamin D and prostate cancer remains under investigation, and clinical trials such as one called DProstate, now underway in Toronto, will hopefully help us learn more in this important area of research. Canada’s Food Guide recommends that men over age 50 take a daily vitamin D supplement. But as usual, the best advice is to always consult with your medical practitioner before embarking on any new therapy.
This issue also addresses the possible side effects associated with various approaches to treating prostate cancer. Dr. Jo-an Peters interviewed couples to gain insight into their intimate relationships post surgery or radiation therapy. Her article reveals how men and women perceive the arrival of erectile dysfunction and adapt to their new sexual reality. Dr. Peters’ mission is to empower couples to seek mutually satisfactory alternatives to intercourse that provide sexual enjoyment for both partners. To this end, men and women are in need of information, support and resources.
Physiotherapist Bill Landry explains how radical prostatectomy can result in problems with urinary continence, and how Kegel exercises can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles to help you regain control. He proposes several exercises that are easy to do and suggests practical ways of integrating them into your daily routine.
These articles provide a good overview on some of the major consequences prostate cancer treatment can have on the everyday lives of men and their partners living with the disease. On a positive note, they stress ways that people can deal with these difficult side effects.
We hope that these topics — as well as others addressed in this edition of Our Voice — offer our readers a rich source of information and encouragement.
