Gay men and prostate cancer: voicing the concerns of a hidden population

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is of paramount concern to men's health, with a high prevalence in Western societies. While previous research has examined PCa from a variety of standpoints, this literature fails to take into account the difficulties encountered by marginalized groups of men, such as gay men. Methods: For this phenomenological, qualitative pilot study, we conducted interviews with two gay men with PCa and one long term romantic partner of a gay man with PCa so as to better understand their viewpoints on the disease. An inductive, thematic analysis of the interview transcripts was conducted. Results and conclusions: Major themes expressed included (1) concerns related to relationship changes and strains, (2) altered sexual function and associated implications for a gay identity, and (3) the perception of heteronormative attitudes in the health care system. Implications for health care delivery are discussed.