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Phenomenological research in the context of myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has predominantly explored women’s accounts. Due to the paucity of research highlighting men’s experiences of living with M.E./CFS, the aim of this research was to explore their visual and verbal accounts to gain a more in-depth understanding of how they make sense of their diagnosis and dual identity as a man with a stigmatized, and often misunderstood, chronic illness. Working within a critical health psychology framework, the study used a phenomenological approach and an adapted version of photovoice to gather and interrogate self-authored photographs and interview accounts from 10 men living with M.E./CFS. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the integrated visual and verbal data led to the development of three themes: “Loss of Masculine Identity as a Man with M.E./CFS,” “Marginalization attached to M.E./CFS and Masculinity” and “Coping with Dual Identity by Adjustments, Assimilation, and Acceptance.” The findings show how men with M.E./CFS cope with identity threat across personal, social, and cultural contexts, while making adaptations in their perceptions and performances of masculinity. We argue that participant-authored photographs could be used by researchers, activists, and practitioners to facilitate increased understanding of and support for men with M.E./CFS.

Underacknowledged clinically and socially, breast cancer in men is a critical health issue, with complex ramifications for those affected. Experiential research exploring men's meaning making of breast cancer accordingly is scant. In this innovative multimethod inquiry, 31 British men, accessed from both clinical care and community contexts, took photographs to illustrate their breast cancer experiences and discussed these in extended semistructured interviews. Verbal and photographic data were analyzed together using interpretative phenomenological analysis through the emerging "visual voice" paradigm. Findings illuminated both the multiple difficulties men encountered and the coping strategies they employed. In particular, the complex and dynamic ways in which men navigated, made sense of, and performed masculinity through their breast cancer journey was pivotal to understanding these experiences and how they presented their accounts, verbally and visually. Thus, the analysis presented identifies and illustrates three experiential and interconnected encounters with masculinity: "Threatened-exposed," "Protected-asserted," and "Reconsidered-reconfigured" which are presented both thematically and through a novel schematic representation. We demonstrate how men's relationship with masculinity shapes their accounts of both the embodied lived experience of breast cancer and how the cancer experience, with its many changes, challenges, and consequences, is communicated to others. How and why men encounter/perform these different masculinities at different points in time across the breast cancer trajectory, and how this aids their adjustment to illness and life postdiagnosis is considered. We conclude with recommendations for improved future breast cancer care and support and suggest future research directions with this community of hitherto underresearched and underrepresented men. Public Significance StatementBreast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.K. and is responsible for proportionally more male deaths annually than some male-specific cancers, for example, testicular cancer. Yet, the illness in men remains poorly understood, especially men's lived breast cancer experiences. The findings of this study reveal the multiple difficulties men encounter and the coping strategies they employ relative to a breast cancer diagnosis, demonstrating the complex and dynamic ways in which men navigate, make sense of, and perform masculinities through their breast cancer journey, and the centrality of this to their experiences. Understanding how men experience breast cancer serves to improve future breast cancer care and support for affected men.

Background There are relatively few studies comparing men’s and women’s breast cancer experiences. Furthermore, men’s experiences of cancer treatment–induced alopecia have received scant academic attention compared with those of women. Objective To explore experiences of treatment-induced alopecia in both sexes and highlight ways in which they might be supported when undergoing breast cancer treatment. Methods Qualitative interviews and photographic data taken from 2 separate experiential inquiries were analyzed together, focusing on references made to treatment-induced alopecia in women’s and men’s breast cancer accounts. Results Hair loss was described as distressing by both sexes, affecting gendered identities and relationships. Men typically discussed loss of body hair, whereas women rarely referred to body hair explicitly, underlining gendered aspects of their experiences. Differences were also noted in coping strategies, with men using humor and asserting their masculinity. Women were better able to disguise hair loss, whereas men were forced to reveal their hairlessness. Conclusions The findings contribute a nuanced understanding of the experience of treatment-induced alopecia for both men and women, which will help to improve their care during cancer treatment. Implications for Practice Healthcare professionals should provide information about the possible implications of cancer-related alopecia for identities and social relationships for both sexes. Highlighting marked gender differences in cancer-related hair loss, advice and support specific to men’s needs would be particularly beneficial, enabling greater gender equality in clinical practice. Understanding the coping strategies employed by both sexes in relation to hair loss will help healthcare professionals to identify and address any underlying patient distress.