Men's experiences and their resources from cancer diagnosis to recovery

Vaartio, Heli; Kiviniemi, Kirsi; Suominen, Tarja

doi:10.1016/s1462-3889(03)00006-1

Cited by 22 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 29 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Participants in this study were traditionally classified as “unpartnered” yet, may have had family or friend who could have accompanied them to their doctor’s appointments, provide them with supportive care as they recovered from treatment, and acted as an advocate, if they chose. The literature supports that men and women experience cancer in different ways [18–20]. Despite their partnered status, most men who develop prostate cancer never attend a support group and they view information and advice from medical staff as more helpful than from family and friends [21].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The experiences of unpartnered men with prostate cancer: a qualitative analysis

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine how men without partners make decisions about prostate cancer treatment, manage treatment side effects, and obtain information and support. Background In 2009, it was projected that over 230,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. While treatment options vary, these options result in changes within the man that can affect his quality of life. Research has shown that often spouses play a central role in men’s choice of treatment and in maintaining men’s quality of life. In addition, spouses are the major providers of emotional support and physical care. However, little is known about how men without partners cope with prostate cancer. Prior research seldom addresses how diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer affects the quality of life of men without partners. Methods Because very little is known about the needs of men without partners managing prostate cancer, qualitative analysis of data obtained during semi-structure interviews provided respondents with an opportunity to share the lived experience of prostate cancer. A semi-structured interview was conducted with selected, consenting men. The sample was drawn from the ongoing R01 study of men with prostate cancer (PROSTQA). Results The sample for this study included 17 unpartnered prostate cancer survivors. The ages of participants ranged from 47 to 72 with a mean age of 63. The participants had between zero and two co-morbidities with an average of one co-morbidity per participant. The sample was 82% Caucasian and 17% Black. A total of 35% of the participants reported “some college” (n = 6), 30% graduated from college (n = 5), and 23% went to graduate school (n = 4). One participant reported that he was a high school graduate and one had less than a high school education. Five themes emerged from the data: going it alone, diagnosis and prostate cancer treatment decision-making, sources of information and support, the aftermath of prostate cancer, and coping strategies. Conclusions This study provides information about unpartnered men’s prostate cancer experience. This information will help health care professionals to meet the needs of unpartnered more effectively and help them to assist men as they adapt to living with this chronic illness.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The experiences of unpartnered men with prostate cancer: a qualitative analysis

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For most participants, disclosure of their diagnosis was limited to their wife and immediate family, with time and courage necessary to feel comfortable sharing the information with others [27,28], while other men made a conscious effort to inform others. Reluctance to share the diagnosis was often related to the perception that breast cancer could not be experienced by a man.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences of men with breast cancer: a qualitative study

Pituskin¹,

Williams²,

Au³

et al. 2007

The Journal of Men's Health & Gender

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Recent reports indicate that male breast cancer rates are increasing in North America. While there have been numerous large-scale studies examining women's experiences with breast cancer, to date there have been no North American studies examining what a man experiences with a breast cancer diagnosis. The objective of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of a sample of Canadian men diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods: After written informed consent, unstructured audio-taped interviews were conducted with 20 men. Since little is known about a man's experience with breast cancer, an exploratory qualitative approach was utilized. Results: Participants experienced concerns related to the lack of awareness of male breast cancer within both public and health professional groups. Many men suffered stress related to the cancer diagnosis, body image concerns and role strain. The lack of male-specific breast cancer information was identified as a major concern. All denied interest in traditional support groups. In retrospect, a number of men felt the breast cancer experience vastly improved their lives. Conclusions: Needs identified by participants include increased public and health professional awareness of male breast cancer, written information specific for men, and male participation in breast cancer research. Further study is also necessary to identify supports considered helpful by men with breast cancer and other malignancies.

show abstract

“…The cancer diagnosis often comes as a major shock for the patient. The illness may have a negative impact on the patient's life, often resulting in distress and a range of difficulties, including anxiety and worries about disease progression [2,3], as well as physical problems associated with treatment side effects [4]. This distress may be greater than most men will admit.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Living after radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. A qualitative analysis of patient narratives

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The purpose of this study was to illuminate the experience of living after radical prostatectomy (RP) for localized prostate cancer (LPC). Ten men were interviewed after RP. The interview text was qualitatively analyzed using the content analysis. The men suffered from worry, anxiety, and distress, and longed for life as they had lived it before the diagnosis. Changes in bodily functions after RP include urine incontinence (UI) and/or erectile dysfunction (ED) making the patient feel like a changed man with a lost sex life, with changes in his intimate relations with his wife, and with lowered self-esteem. Most men choose to cope on their own. Coping strategies in our study population included finding new areas of interest and a new focus in the present. In the present study, living after RP meant striving to gain control over, and become reconciled with, the new life situation as a changed man living with an altered self.

show abstract

Men's experiences and their resources from cancer diagnosis to recovery

Cited by 22 publications

References 29 publications

The experiences of unpartnered men with prostate cancer: a qualitative analysis

The experiences of unpartnered men with prostate cancer: a qualitative analysis

Experiences of men with breast cancer: a qualitative study

Living after radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. A qualitative analysis of patient narratives

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About