Experiences of Australian men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer: a qualitative study

Objective

To explore men's lived experience of advanced prostate cancer (PCa) and preferences for support.

Design

Cross-sectional qualitative study applying open-ended surveys and interviews conducted between June and November 2016. Interviews audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed from an interpretive phenomenological perspective.

Setting

Australia, nation-wide.

Participants

39 men diagnosed with advanced PCa (metastatic or castration-resistant biochemical regression) were surveyed with 28 men subsequently completing a semistructured in depth telephone interview.

Results

Thematic analysis of interviews identified two organising themes: lived experience and supportive care. Lived experience included six superordinate themes: regret about late diagnosis and treatment decisions, being discounted in the health system, fear/uncertainty about the future, acceptance of their situation, masculinity and treatment effects. Supportive care included five superordinate themes: communication, care coordination, accessible care, shared experience/peer support and involvement of their partner/family.

Conclusions

Life course and the health and social context of PCa influence men's experiences of advanced disease. Multimodal interventions integrating peer support and specialist nurses are needed that more closely articulate with men's expressed needs.

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