BackgroundSurvivors’ testimonies can reveal much about men’s experiences of prostate cancer and impacts on their quality of life (QOL) during the clinical trajectory of the disease. These survivors’ shared thoughts and views were hypothesized to reflect salient features of their lived social representation of prostate cancer.ContextWe explored the content of testimonies posted by men to a public blog hosted by a French national prostate cancer patients’ association. The study question, “What do French bloggers’ testimonies reveal about their lived experiences with prostate cancer, especially regarding their quality of life in community settings, that underpin their social representation of prostate cancer?” guided the exploration and analysis of the textual data. The aims were to better understand men’s experiences and predominant thoughts and views, to elucidate patients’ behaviours, and to enlighten medical policy and practice.PurposeExplore issues of QOL as reported by French prostate cancer survivors in a public blog by: (a) identifying the salient aspects and issues of the experience of living with prostate cancer from the perspective of survivors; and (b) analyzing the content in the posted testimonies regarding perceived and lived impacts of prostate cancer on QOL.MethodsA critical ethnographic study guided the selection of textual data from 196 male bloggers’ testimonies about prostate cancer posted in the period from 2008 to 2013. Media content analysis method was undertaken on blog testimonies, framed by a multidimensional conceptual framework of QOL.ResultsTestimonies focused mainly on medical care and rehabilitation, recovery, health education and self-care, as well as on a global vision of prostate cancer and its impacts on personal views of manhood and masculinity. The language used indicated that political, educative and compassionate discourses were intertwined to create a complex representation of the experience and effects of prostate cancer; this multi-faceted representation can inform the public and professional debate about men’s capacity to provide emotional support and problem-solve within a community of interest.ConclusionFindings, while based on data limited to mostly one-time entries to a French blog, contribute to understanding a unique, collective expression of men’s lived experiences of prostate cancer. These anonymous survivors shared their varied reactions, ways of coping, and thoughts on needed change.

Background: This study explored the French media’s presentation of ideas and medical information about prostate cancer (PC) that may influence men’s understanding, attitudes and behavior. Methods: A qualitative media content analysis centered on PC information delivered by French professional media. The selected data were produced in the aftermath of the High Health Authority's decision in 2008 not to recommend systematic screening by prostate specific antigen(PSA) for men over 50. Source was the Media Archives of the French National Library. Content was analyzed from 15 television programs, 14 radio programs, and 55 articles from 35 popular French newspapers (online and printed, weekly and monthly) and 20 magazines. Audio content was narrated into textual form and submitted to manual coding along with the print content.Results: Television and radio content focused on the nature of PC, screening and treatment,and conveyed a gender-centric position linked to male sexuality and virility. Newspapers and magazines targeted the testing controversy, the lack of consensus among professionals, and scientific advances in screening and treatment.Conclusion: Media participation in the European testing debate is valuable for allowing patients to hear all opinions on PC risk factors. Debate on testing policy contributes to confusion and uncertainty regarding appropriate action.

Background. Worldwide, men’s health and wellness promotion employ various models and conceptions of masculinity. Masculinities are subjectively experienced and influenced by social differences such as race, class, and sexual orientation. Largely because it threatens men’s gender identity and sexuality, prostate cancer is a prominent and sensitive health issue. How men think, speak about, and represent prostate cancer is affected by their cultural, social, moral, and religious values and beliefs. Methods. Based on data from a larger ethnographic study, this article reports on Francophone and Francophile immigrant men’s experiences and representations of prostate cancer.  Data were collected from interviews with 19 men in the cities of Gonesse and Paris, France, using a tool inspired by (core) social representation theory, and submitted to content analysis. Results. Similar views between the two groups of men suggest that the representation of prostate cancer prevalent in French society held more sway over the men’s attitudes and thoughts than any alternative cultural views from the immigrants’ particular ethnic backgrounds. Conclusions. The confirmed view of prostate cancer as a disease with neither a positive nor a negative meaning offered opportunities for the men to re-evaluate their lives and plan their future with realistic expectations.

Background Survivors’ testimonies can reveal much about men’s experiences of prostate cancer and impacts on their quality of life (QOL) during the clinical trajectory of the disease. These survivors’ shared thoughts and views were hypothesized to reflect salient features of their lived social representation of prostate cancer.

Background Survivors’ testimonies can reveal much about men’s experiences of prostate cancer and impacts on their quality of life (QOL) during the clinical trajectory of the disease. These survivors’ shared thoughts and views were hypothesized to reflect salient features of their lived social representation of prostate cancer.