Men who had radical prostatectomies scored significantly better on this measure over time than men who underwent pelvic radiation or watchful waiting( Litwin et al., 2002). Not all survivors’ mental health appears equally affected, however. In men treated for prostate cancer, their levels of mental health - as measured by the SF-36-item subscale on emotional well-being - worsen immediately after diagnosis( Litwin et al., 2002), possibly returning to pre-diagnosis levels at longer term follow-up( Korfage, de Koning, Roobol, Schröder, & Essink-Bot, 2006). In terms of mental health, studies of (heterosexual) prostate cancer survivors identify psychological distress( Roth et al., 1998), depression( Nelson et al., 2009), anxiety, fear and uncertainty( Denberg, Melhado, & Steiner, 2006), as the dominant emotional/mental health challenges. Harden et al., 2002 Litwin, Lubeck, Spitalny, Henning, & Carroll, 2002), identity, and relationships( J. 2).įrom research on heterosexual men, it is clear prostate cancer and its treatment can have profound effects on survivors’ mental health( J. The literature is so sparse that Perlman and Descher note, “If prostate cancer, in general, is off most people's radar screen, then gay men with prostate cancer are a truly invisible species”( Perlman & Drescher, 2005, p. To mitigate these negative effects of radical prostatectomy, and to address health disparities n outcomes observed in gay and bisexual men, all these challenges need to be considered in any tailored rehabilitation program for gay and bisexual men.Īlmost no research has examined the effects of radical prostatectomy on the mental health, sexual identity and relationships of gay and bisexual men (GBM). Most to all of these effects stem from sexual changes.
Relationship challenges identified included disclosing the sexual effects of treatment to partners, loss of partners, and re-negotiation of sexual exclusivity. Identity challenges included loss of a sense of maleness and manhood, changes in strength of sexual orientation, role-in-sex identity, and immersion into sexual sub-cultures. Across the respondents’ five emotional themes emerged: (1) shock at the diagnosis, (2) a reactive, self-reported “depression”, (3) sex-specific situational anxiety, (4) a sense of grief, and, (5) an enduring loss of sexual confidence. In 2015, we conducted in-depth telephone interviews with 19 gay and bisexual men who had undergone radical prostatectomies.
The effect of prostate cancer treatment in gay and bisexual men is an under-researched area.