Men's experiences of the impact of penile cancer surgery on their lives: A qualitative study

Minna Törnävä; Eeva Harju; Hanna Vasarainen; Tomi Pakarainen; Ilkka Perttilä; Antti Kaipia

doi:10.1111/ecc.13548

Men's experiences of the impact of penile cancer surgery on their lives: A qualitative study

Minna Törnävä, Eeva Harju, Hanna Vasarainen, Tomi Pakarainen, Ilkka Perttilä, Antti Kaipia

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

Objective: Surgery is the primary treatment for invasive penile cancer (PC). Postoperative changes in genital anatomy and function may lead to altered body and self-image, compromised sexual function and subsequent psychological problems. The aim of this study is to describe men's experiences of the impact of PC surgical treatment on their lives. Methods: The institutional databases of two Finnish university hospitals were searched for patients who underwent surgery for invasive PC between 2009 and 2019. Of 107 men, 29 agreed to an interview or a response letter. The data were analysed by thematic analysis. Results: The men experienced that their self-image had changed after PC diagnosis and treatment to a ‘cancer-modified me’. They also experienced that physical symptoms after surgery defined their everyday, as well as sexual, lives and that the whole content of life changed. Conclusion: Support and counselling for physical, mental, sexual and social factors should be part of the treatment of men with PC.

Original language	English
Article number	e13548
Journal	EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE
Volume	31
Issue number	1
Early online date	2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13548
Publication status	Published - 2022
Publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

cancer survivors
lived experience
penile neoplasms
qualitative research
surgical treatment
thematic analysis

Publication forum classification

Publication forum level 1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oncology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1111/ecc.13548

Cite this

@article{aedc693685194185852de777cae5b3b5,

title = "Men's experiences of the impact of penile cancer surgery on their lives: A qualitative study",

abstract = "Objective: Surgery is the primary treatment for invasive penile cancer (PC). Postoperative changes in genital anatomy and function may lead to altered body and self-image, compromised sexual function and subsequent psychological problems. The aim of this study is to describe men's experiences of the impact of PC surgical treatment on their lives. Methods: The institutional databases of two Finnish university hospitals were searched for patients who underwent surgery for invasive PC between 2009 and 2019. Of 107 men, 29 agreed to an interview or a response letter. The data were analysed by thematic analysis. Results: The men experienced that their self-image had changed after PC diagnosis and treatment to a {\textquoteleft}cancer-modified me{\textquoteright}. They also experienced that physical symptoms after surgery defined their everyday, as well as sexual, lives and that the whole content of life changed. Conclusion: Support and counselling for physical, mental, sexual and social factors should be part of the treatment of men with PC.",

keywords = "cancer survivors, lived experience, penile neoplasms, qualitative research, surgical treatment, thematic analysis",

author = "Minna T{\"o}rn{\"a}v{\"a} and Eeva Harju and Hanna Vasarainen and Tomi Pakarainen and Ilkka Perttil{\"a} and Antti Kaipia",

note = "Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the Finnish Foundation of Urological Research, Satakunta Fund/Cultural Foundation of Finland, Tampere University Hospital Support Foundation (150646) and Cancer Foundation Finland (M5931), for funding this study. The authors would like to thank the men who kindly participated in the study. We thank MNSc, RN Sari Jantunen for her assistance in conducting the interviews. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",

year = "2022",

doi = "10.1111/ecc.13548",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

journal = "EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE",

issn = "0961-5423",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Men's experiences of the impact of penile cancer surgery on their lives

T2 - A qualitative study

AU - Törnävä, Minna

AU - Harju, Eeva

AU - Vasarainen, Hanna

AU - Pakarainen, Tomi

AU - Perttilä, Ilkka

AU - Kaipia, Antti

N1 - Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the Finnish Foundation of Urological Research, Satakunta Fund/Cultural Foundation of Finland, Tampere University Hospital Support Foundation (150646) and Cancer Foundation Finland (M5931), for funding this study. The authors would like to thank the men who kindly participated in the study. We thank MNSc, RN Sari Jantunen for her assistance in conducting the interviews. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Objective: Surgery is the primary treatment for invasive penile cancer (PC). Postoperative changes in genital anatomy and function may lead to altered body and self-image, compromised sexual function and subsequent psychological problems. The aim of this study is to describe men's experiences of the impact of PC surgical treatment on their lives. Methods: The institutional databases of two Finnish university hospitals were searched for patients who underwent surgery for invasive PC between 2009 and 2019. Of 107 men, 29 agreed to an interview or a response letter. The data were analysed by thematic analysis. Results: The men experienced that their self-image had changed after PC diagnosis and treatment to a ‘cancer-modified me’. They also experienced that physical symptoms after surgery defined their everyday, as well as sexual, lives and that the whole content of life changed. Conclusion: Support and counselling for physical, mental, sexual and social factors should be part of the treatment of men with PC.

AB - Objective: Surgery is the primary treatment for invasive penile cancer (PC). Postoperative changes in genital anatomy and function may lead to altered body and self-image, compromised sexual function and subsequent psychological problems. The aim of this study is to describe men's experiences of the impact of PC surgical treatment on their lives. Methods: The institutional databases of two Finnish university hospitals were searched for patients who underwent surgery for invasive PC between 2009 and 2019. Of 107 men, 29 agreed to an interview or a response letter. The data were analysed by thematic analysis. Results: The men experienced that their self-image had changed after PC diagnosis and treatment to a ‘cancer-modified me’. They also experienced that physical symptoms after surgery defined their everyday, as well as sexual, lives and that the whole content of life changed. Conclusion: Support and counselling for physical, mental, sexual and social factors should be part of the treatment of men with PC.

KW - cancer survivors

KW - lived experience

KW - penile neoplasms

KW - qualitative research

KW - surgical treatment

KW - thematic analysis

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DO - 10.1111/ecc.13548

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85121472658

SN - 0961-5423

VL - 31

JO - EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE

JF - EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE

IS - 1

M1 - e13548

ER -

Men's experiences of the impact of penile cancer surgery on their lives: A qualitative study

Abstract

Keywords

Publication forum classification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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