Hard Conversations: Advance Care Planning through the lens of mens sexual health with Dr Samantha Strumeier

In this episode it is my pleasure to talk with Dr Samantha Strumeier,. We explore Advance Care Planning through the lens of  men’s sexual health. Listen in to hear common misconceptions and what Advance Care Planning Conversations can look like when living with prostate or testicular cancer.

Key messages

• Samantha debunks myths associated with mens sexual health, focusing on 

  • Age

  • Sexual Preferences

  • Sex = intercourse

  • libido = erections

• 1 in 8 people in the UK will experience prostate cancer

• Samantha talks of the difference between survival and living

• The effect on a person diagnosed with cancer is explored by Samantha - and the importance of seeing past treatment and to a post treatment wellbeing.

• Planning in  advance for testicular and prostate cancer is focused on by Samantha

• Testicular cancer patients are typically young, 18 to mid 40s. A testicular cancer diagnosis impacts psychologically as well as physiologically. Samantha shares the importance of testosterone testing prior to treatment for  optimal health.

• The impact of prostate cancer treatment is explained by Samantha

• Samantha explains why  vacuum pumps do not work for erectile dysfunction

• Penile injections are explained by Samantha and can help with psychogenic or physiological problems related to prostate cancer

Resource

• Access the American Urological Guidelines 

• Support from Prostate Cancer UK

• Support from Testicular Cancer UK 

• More information on the Gleason score  mentioned by Samantha

• Find out more about Sex and erection problems after treatment for prostate cancer 

• Access the video: How To Give a Penile Injection

Bio

Dr. Samantha Strumeier, DNP, is Lead Nurse Specialist in Genitourinary Oncology at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. Trained at Johns Hopkins and with over a decade at Memorial Sloan Kettering under Dr. John Mulhall, she is recognised for her expertise in men’s health, testosterone replacement therapy, and her leadership as Chair of the GU/Uro-Oncology MDT at Barts Health.