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Article: Men feel isolated after cancer treatment

  • 13-06-2011 5:05am
    #1
    The_Conductor
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,286 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I don't often post links to articles from the Indo- but feel that this one is pertinent- its quoting research conducted at Ulster University into the after effects of cancer care on men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

    Link to article here

    Men feel isolated and abandoned by health services once their cancer treatment has ended, researchers at the University of Ulster have reported.

    The findings were made after examining how men cope with diagnosis, treatment and after-care of prostate cancer.

    The study, funded by the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) to mark International Men's Health Week, explored how men cope with the effects of combined radiotherapy and hormone treatment.

    Dr Eilis McCaughan, principal research investigator at the Institute of Nursing Research, said: "This is one of the first studies to highlight both the physical and psychosocial issues that men face, over a period of time, when living with a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

    "The results highlight the impact of cancer and its treatments on men and their reactions and responses to them."

    The patients were found to have been satisfied with the care and support received during treatment, but felt isolated and abandoned once treatment had ended.

    The research also discovered that those with a low quality of life prior to radiotherapy experienced an even lower level of quality of life soon after treatment. The researchers said they constituted an at-risk and vulnerable group in need of support from health services.

    Roisin Foster, chief executive of UCF, said: "Cancer has a huge impact on our society. Every year in Northern Ireland around 960 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer.

    "We know from our work with men living with prostate cancer that dealing with the side effects of cancer treatment can have long-term impact on men's confidence, self-esteem and quality of life. The findings of this research are crucially important to us as we plan and deliver services that will offer optimal support throughout their illness.

    "The findings validate experience on the ground and clearly point the way for the development of support services tailored to the expressed needs of men living with prostate cancer."

    Press Association


Comments

  • #2
    The_Conductor
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,286 Mod ✭✭✭✭The_Conductor


    Unfortunately, from personal experience, I would offer the opinion that the vast bulk of after care treatment available for those post cancer care treatment, irrespective of gender- seems to be singularly targeted at breast cancer- men in general are ignored, and the biggest cancer killer of them all- lung cancer, is stigmatised..........

    We really *need* gender neutral, unbiased, research into the various cancers, their treatments and after care for *all* patients. Unfortunately the womens lobby really scored an own goal on this one- in Ireland lung cancer has 4 times more deaths among women than breast cancer (2009 CSO figures)- and both pale into insignificance with the leading killer among women- which the women's health lobby ignore altogether as its perceived to be a mens disease- heart disease.........


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