IJERPH | Free Full-Text | “Ultimately, You Realize You’re on Your Own”: The Impact of Prostate Cancer on Gay and Bisexual Men Coupl

prostate cancer homosexuality

An timated one three gay and bisexual (GB) male upl receive a prostate ncer (PCa) diagnosis over their life urse wh limed unrstandg of the impacts on their relatnships. Psychologil distrs related to PCa diagnosis and treatment-related si effects have been shown to dispt tablished GB partnership dynamics. Communitn barriers often velop wh GB relatnships affected by PCa, further exacerbatg uple tensns, isolatg partners, and lowerg qualy of life for both patients and partners. In orr to elaborate on the phenomena followg a PCa diagnosis, we nducted foc group discsns wh GB men relatnships. Men were reced natnally through PCa support groups, and after pletg nsent procr, they were ved to one of two foc group discsns nducted through vio nference. Topics discsed clud the diagnosis and medil cisn makg pertag to PCa; healthre provir experienc; the emotnal, physil, and sexual impact of PCa diagnosis and treatment; sourc of support and appraisal of rourc; and partner volvement and munitn. There were twelve GB men who participated foc group discsns that were d-rerd and transcribed, and analyzed g a thematic approach. GB uple experienc wh PCa durg and after treatment choice and revery intified mon patient–provir munitn barriers. In particular, GB men reported difficulti disclosg their sexualy and relatnship to their provirs, limg nversatns about treatment choice and partner engagement re. Both patients and partners experienced tim of beg alone after treatment, eher by choice or to give space to their partner. However, partners often did not explicly discs their preferenc for beg alone or together, which rulted partners’ disengagement their relatnship and the prostate ncer healthre procs. This disengagement uld blunt the notable PCa survival benefs of partnership for GB men.

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WHEN TO PROSTATE NCER, 'GAY MEN ARE ERASED,' PATIENTS SAY

Once laser-foced on HIV/AIDS, the gay muny is now addrsg one of the perils of gettg olr. * prostate cancer homosexuality *

But the unique challeng facg gay and bisexual men wh prostate ncer have largely gone who have sex wh men (MSM) are ls likely to get regular prostate ncer screengs, and those who are diagnosed are ls likely to have faial and social support, acrdg to rearch ced by the Natnal Instut of Health. And if their health re provir is not culturally petent, gay and bisexual men are much ls likely to unrstand how treatment will impact their qualy of life.

”As a rult, Margoli add, many lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr patients go back the closet when they beg ncer treatment. “I’ve been a gay activist — and been out — so long that I took for granted I uld talk openly to my doctors, ” he told NBC News. Brass’ said his sexual functn was relatively good, but stead he stggled wh ntence for weeks — g as many as ne “pads” a day and stayg wh yards of a bathroom at all you’re gay and you go to a urologist who hasn’t alt wh gay men, they’ll tell you, 'Brg your wife wh you.

'"He joed a prostate ncer support group specifilly for gay and bisexual men at Mount Sai Hospal Manhattan, one of several anized by the natnal advocy anizatn wh other queer men “allowed to be very open about our feelgs — and our sexualy — and to be empathetic wh each other, ” Brass said. “Too often gay men are erased the [support] groups. They don’t want to hear other men be vulnerable, and they don’t want to hear about gay sex.

PROSTATE CANCER GAY, BISEXUAL, AND OTHER MEN WHO HAVE SEX WH MEN: A REVIEW

Rearch suggts that some gay and bisexual men may face a number of barriers to gettg the health re and ncer screeng tts they need. Learn what you need to know about ncer risk and preventn. * prostate cancer homosexuality *

“If you’re gay and you go to a urologist who hasn’t alt wh gay men, they’ll tell you, ‘Brg your wife wh you, ’" he said.

”That disfort n spread to gay patients. "A NEGLECTED AREA"It’s impossible to know how many gay men have been diagnosed prostate ncer, bee qutns about sexualy are rarely clud rearch studi. “The medil muny say, ‘We don’t want to ask olr heterosexual men qutns that might upset them, ’" Simon Rosser, an LGBTQ health specialist and -thor of "Gay and Bisexual Men Livg Wh Prostate Cancer, " told NBC Rosser, PhD, MPH, is a profsor at the Universy of Mnota School of Public Health.

Universy of MnotaA profsor at the Universy of Mnota School of Public Health, Rosser has received a $3 ln grant om the Natnal Cancer Instute to put together the first prehensive rehabilatn program specifilly for gay and bisexual men wh prostate ncer. ”But wasn’t stutnalized homophobia, Rosser strsed. ” For gay men, so long ignored by medice, Rosser believ those rat are much higher.

CANCER FACTS FOR GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN

Gay and bisexual men wh prostate ncer may have different needs that need to be addrsed wh health re provirs as they go through treatment and beyond. * prostate cancer homosexuality *

”Rosser said the silence and shame surroundg the topic allows ugly myths to flourish — like that gay sex somehow “ed” their ncer. “Gay men have a lot to offer the subject of prostate ncer.

GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN WH PROSTATE CANCER HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS

And we have studi that show out are different for gay men: We have worse mental health, we have greater urary problems, but our sexual out are reliably better.

“ULTIMATELY, YOU REALIZE YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN”: THE IMPACT OF PROSTATE CANCER ON GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN COUPL

Gettg the disease, ironilly, is somethg of a luxury for a gay men of Brass’ age: Too many had their liv cut short by the AIDS epimic long before they’d typilly be diagnosed (the average age for a prostate ncer diagnosis is 66) the advent of lifavg antiretroviral dgs the mid-1990s, though, gay men are fally reachg their goln years. ”It stole a generatn, but the AIDS epimic also tght gay men how to fight disease, how to ask qutns and how to mand better treatment. And, I thk, as gay men, we brg a ep feelg of passn, empathy and humor.

GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN'S UROLOGY

Koy, MD, MBA, 4 Darryl Mteldorf, MSW, MPA, 5 and William Wt, PhD6AbstractPurpose: Prostate ncer gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex wh men (GBM) is an emergg medil and public health ncern. Six future directns, to advance the study of the effects of prostate ncer GBM and to improve treatment, are words:: bisexual, ncer, gay, male, prostate, sexual rehabilatnIntroductnImprovg the health of lbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenr (LGBT) dividuals is a Healthy People 2020 goal. 3 Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex wh men (GBM) who have been diagnosed wh prostate ncer may have differential health-related qualy of life and sexual health out than heterosexual men wh prostate ncer, but existg rmatn is almost always based on small studi, clil se studi, or an anecdote.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* PROSTATE CANCER HOMOSEXUALITY

Cancer Facts for Gay and Bisexual Men | Amerin Cancer Society .

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