Transitory masculinities in the context of being sick with prostate cancer.
Jeferson Santos Araújo, Vander Monteiro da Conceição, Marcia Maria Fontão Zago
PMID 31826165WHAT IT FOUND
Men treated for prostate cancer described urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction as threats to being a man, leading to shame, isolation and resignation.
Nurses should assess these identity losses, not only physical symptoms.
Key findings
01The 17 participants all underwent radical prostatectomy and experienced erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
02Urinary incontinence was described as causing shame and keeping men away from work.
03Loss of ejaculation was described as losing a part of themselves and harming marital and social interaction.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
It is a qualitative study of 17 men from one university hospital in São Paulo state, so it cannot show how common these experiences are. All participants had had radical prostatectomy, so the findings may not apply to men treated differently. Five participants also had radiotherapy and three used herbs and medicinal teas alongside treatment, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The study focused on local Brazilian masculinities and culture, and the authors note that other masculinities coexist. Most participants were aged between 61 and 81, retired, and had incomplete elementary school, so findings may not represent other age groups or social situations.
Declared interests
The paper was extracted from a doctoral dissertation and supported by CNPq in Brazil. The supplied text lists funding but gives no author conflict-of-interest statement.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that a nursing approach improves prostate cancer outcomes. The study describes 17 men's experiences in one Brazilian setting, so it cannot test care effects.