title: Dealing with a troublesome body: a qualitative interview study of men's experiences living with prostate cancer treated with endocrine therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endocrine therapy for prostate cancer causes substantial side effects, and previous studies have focused on the impacts on sexuality and masculinity. Little is known about how men experience bodily alterations in everyday life through the course of the prostate cancer and treatment. The aim of this study was to show how men with prostate cancer experience bodily changes and how these alterations influence daily life.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted via qualitative interviews with a phenomenological hermeneutic approach. We interviewed ten men (aged 58-83) with prostate cancer who received endocrine therapy as the primary treatment method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that five themes were important for the men's experiences of their bodily alterations throughout the course of the illness: "something is 'wrong'", "when the body becomes troublesome", "to be well or to be ill", "dealing with the alterations" and "to talk about cancer and the intimate details". Initially, the shock of receiving a cancer diagnosis and the physical changes in their bodies were at the forefront of many patients' minds. Eventually, the impact of the side effects became more evident, which caused problems in everyday life. Yet, the men were able to reflect on the impact of treatment on their everyday lives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that hormone treatment has a significant influence, both directly and indirectly, on the bodies of prostate cancer patients. The experiences of men with prostate cancer may lead to feelings of loss of identity on an existential level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Care Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway. bente.ervik@uit.no
authors.forename: Bente
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ervik
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asplund
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001828:Body Image; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal