Abstract
Purpose
Endocrine therapy for prostate cancer causes substantial side effects, and previous
studies have focused on the impacts on sexuality and masculinity. Little is known
about how men experience bodily alterations in everyday life through the course of
the prostate cancer and treatment. The aim of this study was to show how men with
prostate cancer experience bodily changes and how these alterations influence daily
life.
Method
The study was conducted via qualitative interviews with a phenomenological hermeneutic
approach. We interviewed ten men (aged 58–83) with prostate cancer who received endocrine
therapy as the primary treatment method.
Results
The results showed that five themes were important for the men’s experiences of their
bodily alterations throughout the course of the illness: “something is ‘wrong’”, “when
the body becomes troublesome”, “to be well or to be ill”, “dealing with the alterations”
and “to talk about cancer and the intimate details”. Initially, the shock of receiving
a cancer diagnosis and the physical changes in their bodies were at the forefront
of many patients’ minds. Eventually, the impact of the side effects became more evident,
which caused problems in everyday life. Yet, the men were able to reflect on the impact
of treatment on their everyday lives.
Conclusion
This study showed that hormone treatment has a significant influence, both directly
and indirectly, on the bodies of prostate cancer patients. The experiences of men
with prostate cancer may lead to feelings of loss of identity on an existential level.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 09, 2011
Identification
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© 2011 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
