Survivors in Cancer: Partners in Prostate Cancer

The treatment of men with prostate cancer is one of the largest portions of the case mix in most radiotherapy departments. Much work has been done to mitigate the long-term side effects for men by improving treatment methods but given the excellent survival statistics, where 80% of men treated for PCa live 10 years beyond diagnosis, there are large numbers of men who are surviving but enduring a high impact from their treatment. It is well established that many of these men experience erectile dysfunction, urinary leakage and bowel problems as a result of treatment. Such side effects are known to have an impact on all aspects of relationships between these men and their partners.
Previous studies have resulted in the development of interventions for ‘couples’. However, such interventions have been developed as a result of exploration of the needs of the men with cancer, without
examining the impact of the diagnosis and long-term side effects of treatment on their partners. Involvement with ‘couples interventions’ are triggered by the patient being invited to participate.
This research aims to explore the impact of prostate cancer on the female partners of those diagnosed with the condition and
develop an understanding of the needs of these ladies by recruiting independent of their partners and conducting face to face interviews to understand the impact on them and their life. In doing so it is believed that the quality of life of both the partners and the men with prostate cancer might be improved.