Cardiff University | Prifysgol Caerdydd ORCA
Online Research @ Cardiff 
WelshClear Cookie - decide language by browser settings

Co-constructing sexual recovery after prostate cancer: a qualitative study with couples

Kelly, Daniel M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1847-0655, Forbat, Liz, Marshall-Lucette, Sylvie and White, Isabel 2015. Co-constructing sexual recovery after prostate cancer: a qualitative study with couples. Translational Andrology and Urology 4 (2) , pp. 131-138. 10.3978/j.issn.2223-4683.2015.04.05

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Background: Men are likely to experience deterioration in sexual functioning as a consequence of treatment for prostate cancer. Indeed, sexual difficulties are common across all treatment modalities. Objective: To determine the impact of treatment for prostate cancer on intimacy and sexual expression/relationships from the perspective of couples. Methods: An observational study was conducted including in-depth interviews with 18 people affected by prostate cancer; comprising eight couples and two individual men. Results: Four categories were identified that illustrated the impact of prostate cancer on intimacy and sexual recovery. These related to social influences and language used to describe the loss or recovery of sexual activities; difficulties in discussing sexual activity with clinicians; the clash of individual impact of prostate cancer recovery versus the impact on the couple, and the re-integration of sexual activities into the relationship. Conclusions: Though only one person in a partnership experiences cancer, these data indicated the extent to which prostate cancer treatment also impacts on partners. The study indicates that adjustment to erectile dysfunction (ED) takes time, but is a highly significant event in couples’ lives and its importance should not be under-estimated. Consequently, we suggest that relational models of care should be considered, whereby side-effects are recognised as impacting on both members of the partnership (for example ED, or lack or ejaculate). Supportive care in this context, therefore, may best be based on a relational approach using language and interventions that are appropriate to the patient and their situation.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Healthcare Sciences
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Prostate cancer; sexuality; couples; survivorship
Publisher: AME Publishing
Date of Acceptance: 2 April 2015
Last Modified: 28 Oct 2022 09:01
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/72981

Citation Data

Cited 14 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item Edit Item