Barriers and facilitators for oncology nurses discussing sexual issues with men diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Purpose: Testicular cancer occurs at a time in a man's life when major social life changes are occurring and when body image, fertility, sexual desire and performance can be central issues. Oncology nurses, as members of the multidisciplinary team, are in an ideal position to address men's concerns. The aim of this study was to investigate oncology nurses' self-perceived knowledge and comfort in relation to discussing sexuality concerns with men diagnosed with testicular cancer and to identify the barriers and facilitators to such discussions.

Testicular cancer: addressing the psychosexual issues.

Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in men aged 15-35 years and predominantly occurs at a time in a man's life when important decisions about marriage, starting a family and a professional career are being made. While treatments for testicular cancer are very successful, they can have a major impact on the person's sexuality and sense of self. The focus of this article is on exploring the impact of cancer treatments for testicular cancer on men's sexuality and how nurses can respond to their concerns in a sensitive and informed manner.