Prostate cancer can be one of the most devastating things that happens to a man. The disease affects more males worldwide than any other type of cancer aside from lung cancer.

When it is caught early, it can be relatively survivable. However, some forms of treatment for the disease can cause serious side effects that can interfere with a man’s sexual performance, and possibly lead to erectile dysfunction.

Dr. Larry Goldenberg, the director of the Prostate Center at Vancouver General Hospital, told the Vancouver Sun that the problems experienced by individuals with prostate cancer depend on how early the disease was diagnosed. However, even with early detection, most men still experience side effects from treatment.

“If a man is sexually active and it’s a big part of his life, it’s critically important. It’s a big part of what we talk about,” he told the news source. “There are very few men who are the same as before.”

However, medical advancements may help men overcome these problems. Constant resistance rings may be able to help men who have been treated for prostate cancer regain their former level of sexual performance.