The former rugby player Kenny Logan has bravely discussed his experience of erectile dysfunction after prostate cancer. In an interview with The Telegraph, the Scottish rugby international spoke about his recovery one year after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, including how it has affected his sex life.
Logan, 50, is the husband of TV presenter Gabby Logan, and he recorded a frank audio diary for her podcast about his experiences of prostate cancer. After receiving the shock diagnosis, Logan was initially knocked for six. However, thanks to agreeing to regular Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing, his cancer was caught in the early stages.
Kenny spoke of his reaction after first receiving the news: “Gabby was in the room. She was behind the screen getting ready for another meeting. We were so not prepared. But when we both heard those words… that I had prostate cancer, she stopped what she was doing, and we just looked at each other.”
He added: “So many things went through my mind. I thought, how can this happen? I’m an ex-sportsman. I’ve looked after my body. I had no symptoms. I asked the consultant whether I was eating the wrong foods and whether my diet was to blame. He said no, it was just one of those things.”
“But the consultant did reassure us both. He said very kindly but firmly, ‘You are not going to die, Kenny.’” He says: “The [PSA] check-ups saved my life because the cancer was detected before it had a chance to spread. Men need to realise it’s not embarrassing to get checked. Smear tests are common for women now, so why not PSA tests?”
Logan had his prostate surgically removed and has since been declared free of cancer. However, he has battled one of the most common side effects of prostate cancer treatment, which is erectile dysfunction. This is a topic that many men are understandably reluctant to discuss, even with their partners or doctor.
However, Logan has bravely spoken publicly about his sexual function after prostate treatment. He said: “Whether it be my dyslexia, my relationship, IVF, we’ve always been quite open. So, I was quite happy to talk about erectile dysfunction and all these other things because I was like, ‘It is a symptom’.”
He added: “Six months on, I would say I’m physically 100 per cent, mentally 100 per cent, feel good. From a sexual point of view, it’s not consistent.”
“As the surgeon said to me, this could take 18 months. Within a month, I was getting movement, where he says, ‘That’s amazing’. So it’s just not as consistent. The beauty is you can take a tablet and it changes things.” One of the first lines of treatment for erectile dysfunction is Viagra, which is the trade name for sildenafil. It is available with or without a prescription, but it is important to talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your medical history, to make sure that it is safe to take. It is possible to buy sildenafil online.
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