Relationship vulnerabilities during breast cancer: patient and partner perspectives.

Objective: Close interpersonal relationships play a crucial role in a woman's adjustment to breast cancer. To date, the literature has focused primarily on characteristics or behaviors of the well spouse that influence a woman's adaptation to the illness. The present qualitative investigation extended this literature by adopting an interactional perspective based on the underlying assumption that relationship partners' coping and distress is mutually influential.

Survivor dragon boating: a vehicle to reclaim and enhance life after treatment for breast cancer.

The authors investigated the psychosocial impact of dragon boat participation on women who have been treated for breast cancer. Open-ended qualitative interviews were completed by 10 new members recruited from two breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams. Our findings indicate that the women's experience of survivor dragon boating surpassed their expectations and offered them hope and increased strength and the ability to regain control of their lives.

'Nothing fit me': nationwide consultations with young women with breast cancer.

Objective: There exists little research about the experience of breast cancer for young women in Canada. To address this gap, the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) and the Ontario Breast Cancer Community Research Initiative undertook a research project to explore the information and support experiences, needs and recommendations of geographically diverse Canadian young women with breast cancer.

Setting And Participants: We consulted with 65 young women in 10 focus groups held across Canada.

The experiences of men receiving androgen deprivation treatment for prostate cancer: a qualitative study.

Objective: This exploratory study was intended to investigate men's ways of integrating and understanding experiences with Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT), including how hormone treatment affected their sense of identity.

Patients And Methods: Twelve men, averaging 61 years of age and treated with ADT, participated in a single interview about their experiences with prostate cancer and hormone treatment. In keeping with a qualitative approach, questions were initially open-ended, with patients encouraged to describe experiences in their own words.

Travelling for radiation cancer treatment: patient satisfaction.

This study was conducted for the purpose of describing cancer patients' satisfaction with their care when they had to travel unexpectedly away from home for treatment. Ontario initiated a rereferral program for cancer patients who needed radiation therapy when the waiting lists in southern Ontario became lengthy. Patients travelled to the United States or northern Ontario for their care.

Two Black men with prostate cancer: a narrative approach.

Objectives: This paper demonstrates the value of a narrative approach for health psychology. It focuses on the lives of two Black men with prostate cancer, drawn from a larger study investigating the links between masculinities and prostate cancer.

Design: The study was a qualitative, interview-based study.

Restoring sexual function in prostate cancer patients: an innovative approach.

It has been extremely difficult for men with prostate cancer to obtain reasonable estimates of the likelihood of remaining potent after first line therapy, partly because of differences in defining potency. If, as in more recent studies, the definition requires that men are usually (not just occasionally) able to get and sustain an erection, then the picture is not encouraging. Additional strategies are needed to help men sustain sexual activity.

A consultation with Canadian rural women with breast cancer.

Objective: Relatively little research has been carried out on the health and supportive care needs of rural women living with breast cancer. In this study, results from a Canadian focus group study are used to highlight issues of importance to rural women.

Setting And Participants: A total of 276 rural women with breast cancer divided into 17 focus groups participated in the study conducted across Canada.

Reactions of health professionals to a research-based theatre production.

Background: There is a recent trend in the social sciences--predominantly among researchers engaged with qualitative methodologies--to translate research finding into artistic and narrative forms. In this paper, we describe our work in translating finding about the experiences of men with prostate cancer and their spouses into a dramatic production, No Big Deal? We then report upon, and provide commentary about data from interviews with health professionals who attended a performance.

Methods: Health professionals (N = 26) were interviewed within 2 weeks of attending a performance of No Big Deal? and again 6 months later (N = 23).

Utilization of complementary/alternative services by women with breast cancer.

This paper reports on the utilization of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) services by women with breast cancer. Study participants were women with invasive breast cancer diagnosed 23-36 months prior to contact about the study, and randomly selected from the Ontario Cancer Registry. From among 1,119 eligible women sent survey questionnaires, 731 returned completed questionnaires (65%).

Supportive care provided by physicians and nurses to women with breast cancer. Results from a population-based survey.

Breast cancer patients' utilisation of supportive care has been understudied. In this paper, results from a population-based survey are used to assess the role of physicians and nurses in providing supportive care to women. Participants for this study were women with histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer diagnosed 23-36 months prior to contact about the study, who were randomly selected from the Ontario Cancer Registry.

Women's experiences with ovarian cancer: reflections on being diagnosed.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the perspectives of women living with ovarian cancer about their experiences with diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. A convenience sample of 18 women was interviewed using an open-ended interview guide. This paper will focus on their perspectives during the peri-diagnostic period.

Sexual dysfunction and the preservation of manhood: experiences of men with prostate cancer.

This study explored the experiences of men living with sexual dysfunction as a consequence of having been treated for prostate cancer. An ethnoculturally diverse sample of 18 men (14 heterosexual, and four homosexual) participated in a series of four to five in-depth interviews. These one-on-one interviews were designed to elicit information pertaining to their beliefs, values and performances regarding masculinity vis-a-vis prostate cancer and its treatment.

Active consideration: conceptualizing patient-provided support for spouse caregivers in the context of prostate cancer.

In this study, the authors examine the under-investigated topic of patient-provided support for spouse caregivers. Thirty-four men with prostate cancer and their female partners were interviewed separately three times: before the man's radical prostatectomy, 8 to 10 weeks postsurgery, and 1 year postsurgery. The core category of active consideration encompassed 4 dimensions: easing spousal burden, keeping us up, maintaining connection, and considering spouse.

Challenges of participatory research: reflections on a study with breast cancer self-help groups.

OBJECTIVE: To review and discuss issues related to participatory research, as they apply within the arena of cancer control. DESIGN: A participatory research study with breast cancer self-help groups is referred to for description and discussion purposes. That study employed primarily individual and group interviews to assess benefits and limitations of self-help groups.

Canadian family physicians and prostate cancer: a national survey.

A sample of family physicians was randomly selected from the membership database of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). Potential respondents were mailed a survey questionnaire, and a modified Dillman approach was utilized. A total of 964 completed questionnaires were received, providing a response rate of 50.

Prostate cancer patients' satisfaction with medical information.

A convenience sample of 965 Canadian men with prostate cancer were surveyed about their experience with, and opinions about, prostate cancer illness and treatment. Questionnaires were distributed by urologists, physicians at selected cancer treatment centers, and prostate cancer self-help groups. In this paper, we report on issues related to men's satisfaction with medical information.

Results of a survey of Canadian men with prostate cancer.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 965 Canadian men with prostate cancer. Questionnaires were distributed to patients by individual urologists, physicians at cancer treatment centres, and prostate cancer self help groups. Most respondents were satisfied by the information received and the communication style of health professionals, although there was a substantive subsample of dissatisfied men.