The Unknowns Challenge Prostate Cancer Patient Partners

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This cancer often is referred to as a “couple’s disease” because it impacts spouses and partners who serve as caregivers.

June 10, 2024 -- Prostate cancer has a huge impact on men. It’s the second most common cancer after skin cancer and the second most deadly cancer after lung cancer , according to the American Cancer Society.

Europa Uomo , a patient advocacy group representing 27 patient support groups in countries across Europe, conducted recently the first-ever large-scale survey for partners of prostate cancer patients. Partners reported they were not informed about the potential consequences of treatment with surgery or radiation , were not told about the risk of incontinence , and were not informed about the risk for impotence .

She said survey respondents consistently cited “loss of connection” as a couple, high levels of distress, and poor communication with their spouses and health care providers about the impact of sexual dysfunction from prostate cancer treatment. In addition, she said there were higher levels of depression than American women in the same age groups evaluated in past studies.

Shaffer said she and her husband did the best that they could to “keep it normal” so their two young children had positive memories of their father. Shaffer, a former middle school teacher and public relations agent, said she and her husband felt doctors did not prepare them for the full impact of the treatment on John as a patient, who experienced more intense hot flashes from hormone therapy than he expected and permanent incontinence, and nor her as a caregiver for the effect on their lives, including sexually and emotionally.

Prostate cancer entered their lives when Mason went on active surveillance of low-risk prostate cancer over 12 years ago.

 

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