Multiple Myeloma- Hormone problems

stanky_williams · New User Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

I am a 27 year old male diagnosed (5-5-06) with multiple myloma,(I know really young for MM). I am currently in-between treatments ((I see Dr. Barlogie in Arkansas)

Since this cancer began I have been having terrible problems with my libido--or rather lack of libido. I am able to have an erection, and to ejaculate but simply have absolutely no desire at any time. This is really interfering with my quality of life.

I believe that the libido problems may be caused by my pain medication- 100 mg oxycontin daily. However, my pain specialist has tried temporarily switching me to several other pain meds-- none of which have helped revive my libido. I have begun to wonder if I do not have some sort of hormone problem. I have several extremely bad hot flashes each day and have noticed that I am much more emotional then in the past-- I even get sapping watching movies- something that NEVER happened in the past. The hot flashes, emotional changes, and libido problems sound like menopause to me--- but I am a 27 year old male!!

I have tried to go off the pain meds, but just cant do it (I have broken ribs) Obviously there are more important things for me to worry about them my libido, but it really is effecting my quality of life. Does anyone have experience with this issue? Any ideas what could be causing the problem? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

27 Year old mail, MM or possible solitary plasmacytoma- tumor on rib, 7500 Gy radiation, one round DTPACE Chemo, Stem cell collection, possible future surgery or transplant.

stanky_williams@hotmail.com

brainman

Stankey, there could be a number of causes for your loss of libido... some emotional/psychological and some physical. I am not an authority on the physical factors. However, I do know that just having cancer is a devastating emotional blow to a person. Just the knowledge that you have cancer can impact your libido and your emotionality. In some ways, that can be a good thing. Certainly, most of us guys need to learn more about how to cry. I learned that it is alright to be angry, cry, and to express these openly. You might want to get some help from a trained professional counselor to sort out this issue. It might be that once you have dealt with the emotional issues that your libido will return.

However, there could be physical/chemical issues as well. When did you have your last full-body scan? MM is a cancer that can spread very easily.

27 is very young to have MM! MM is usually thought of as an older person's cancer... at least in my mind and experience. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

stanky_williams · New User Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

Jim H,

Thank you for the reply. I think you are right that the libido lose could be caused by my emotional/psychological response to knowing that I have cancer (my oncologist agrees with you). That was actually one of my first ideas also. I started to stray away from this idea because I have noticed that the libido is one of the only things that never gets better, even when things seem to be going well emotionally. I have been seeing a psychologist and have been taking cymbalta- primarily to help me emotionally and also to help with neuropathy. The cymbalta has helped my anxiety a tremendous amount-- but still no libido. Do you (or anyone else) have experience with cymbalta and other anxiety/ depression meds? I wonder if there is another med that I should try-- although, my psychologist and I both think that my “mind is right”-- But if anyone has any med ideas, I can see what my psychologist thinks.

I had my last full body scan about a month ago- in the last year I have had 42 scans (including 7 full body PET scans)-- My doctors are trying really hard to find a tumor that they think is hiding somewhere. I really hate scans, MRIs are actually the one thing that seem to get harder each time. So far things are stable since my last treatment- nothing has spread, but nothing has gotten better either.

Your right MM is almost always found in older people- I think that average age is 65. It is being found in younger people more and more everyday.

Thanks again for your reply

God Bless,

Jim W.

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