Love, faith and hope – a secondary analysis of prostate cancer survivors and their partners

Abstract

Background: Men's experience of recovery from treatment for prostate cancer has been extensively researched with reports highlighting the physical side effects of treatments such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence. The psychological, emotional and spiritual burden of prostate cancer on men and their partners has received far less attention.

Design:In this study, a secondary thematic analysis of data from a series of separate but related qualitative studies with prostate cancer survivors and their partners was conducted to further explore themes of love, hope and faith within this population.

Results: This study identified unresolved needs related to the emotive concepts of love, hope and faith. The findings from this study can be employed to refine psychosocial assessments of men with prostate cancer, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of prostate cancer survivors supportive care needs.

Keywords:

• prostate cancer
• love
• hope
• faith
• supportive care
• nursing

Conclusion

The diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer ensures cancer survivors and their partners are faced with a continuum of adaption to psychosocial, emotional, spiritual and physical challenges. Congruent with other studies, this paper found both men with prostate cancer and their intimate partners encounter challenges related both to the illness and recovery from different points of treatment (Tanner, Galbraith, & Hays, 2011). Findings from this study provide a framework to understand how prostate cancer impacts on love, hope and faith in men and their partners at every stage of their cancer journey. This framework can be employed to refine psychosocial assessments of men with prostate cancer, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of prostate cancer survivors supportive care needs. It is suggested that developing evidence-based interventions that target male cancer survivors spiritual and emotional needs, and help men respond to the challenges of cancer will be of value to men, their partners and those that love and care for them.

Acknowledgements

The study has ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of the University of South Australia, and conforms to the provisions of the Declaration of Helsinki.