Social representations of radical prostatectomy from the perspective of men undergoing surgery.
Bianca de Moura Peloso-Carvalho, Rogério Silva Lima, José Vitor da Silva and 3 others
PMID 41248302WHAT IT FOUND
Men described prostate removal as relief and necessary, but many linked it to lost sexual function, urinary leakage, and damaged manhood.
Some also said they wanted clearer preparation and emotional support.
Key findings
01Men described surgery as relief, healing, or a way to remove the cancer or avoid death, with 36.67% (n = 22) saying it was good or great and 38.33% (n = 23) saying it removed the problem or prevented death.
02Impaired sexual function was reported by 40% (n = 24) of men, who described feeling mutilated, losing pleasure, or losing virility.
03Urinary problems were reported by 10% (n = 6), while 15% (n = 9) described suffering and 6.67% (n = 4) described fright, worry, or shock.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used convenience sampling at a Brazilian cancer centre, so it cannot say how all men after prostatectomy feel. The interviews were not returned to participants for checking because of the clinic's care flow. The study did not record surgical type, disease remission, neurovascular bundle preservation, or objective urinary and sexual function data, so the themes are about meaning, not measured severity. Because this is qualitative work, it produces themes about experience, not evidence that any treatment or education changes outcomes.
Declared interests
Funded by CAPES under Funding Code 001.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that prostatectomy causes lasting harm or that better education improves outcomes. The study describes how 60 men made sense of surgery, not how many had objective side effects or what any intervention achieved.