Prostate Cancer and Erectile Dysfunction: Men's Experiences

This paper draws on the results of a longitudinal, qualitative study of men with prostate cancer and their spouses. Thirtyfour men with prostate cancer and their spouses were interviewed (simultaneously and separately) at three points in time: prior to surgery; eight to 10 weeks post-surgery; and 11 to 13 months post-surgery. The primary focus for this paper is on the final set of interviews with the men, (although women’s responses are also reported upon). Whereas sexuality had not been a primary concern for men in earlier interviews, it surfaced in a major way in the interviews conducted a year after their treatment. Most of the men (71%) were totally impotent, and all of the rest were dealing with some loss of capacity. Six components of sexuality-related experience emerged from interviews, including 1) moving sex to the foreground; 2) navigating biotechnology (or not); 3) working things out as a couple; 4) coming to terms with the new me; 5) keeping things private; and 6) revisiting the treatment decision. While men tend to publicly downplay the impact of their illness experience, including erectile dysfunction, in reality they face major challenges in sorting through biotechnological remedies to impotence and in negotiating new sexual terrain with their partners.