A 52-year-old man from Taiwan had to get his reproductive organ half amputated after cancer caused him to have an erection which lasted for a week. The man complained to doctors that his erection began suddenly, without any stimuli. After tests, advanced bladder cancer was found to be the cause.
This symptom, called priapism, can be caused due to reasons unrelated to sexual stimulation and last for more than four hours. Engaging in sexual activity also does not help in reducing it. An often suggested method of relief is to draw out blood from the organ with a syringe, though it can be very painful.
The unnamed man had been diagnosed with bladder cancer and asked to get his bladder surgically removed in 2014, according to local reports, said the Daily Mail. However, he did not get the necessary treatment as he was afraid of being dependent on a urine bag for the rest of his life. It was only when he got a painful and sustained erection that he decided to take medical assistance.
The patient said that his member felt like it was "about to explode" and the pain became severe and unbearable. Surgeons at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital investigated the cause of this unnatural symptom and found that cancer had spread too far to save his organ.
Dr. Wang Hung-jen, head of the hospital's urology department, stated to Apple Daily that the erection had been caused by obstructed blood vessels in the man's genital organ due to bladder cancer. He performed the operation which resulted in half of the man's private part being removed. The man is now recovering, after which he will begin chemotherapy.
"He isn't married and didn't request an evaluation of potential sexual function," said Wang, when asked about the man's ability to indulge in carnal activities in the future.
Frequent masturbation and sexual activity have often linked with bladder and prostate cancer. A 2009 study by researchers at England's University of Nottingham stated that men in their 20s have a higher risk of prostate cancer if they indulge in self-pleasure frequently. On the other hand, such a habit in men above 50 helps to reduce cancer risks. The excessive secretion of androgens, which are male hormones, leads to higher chances of being diagnosed with cancer.
