Men's experiences and their resources from cancer diagnosis to recovery

This study describes the experiences and resources of male cancer patients in Finland during the trajectory of their illness. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect data on falling ill with cancer, on periods of treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy), and on convalescence. The participants (n=8), aged 42-64 (mean=53) were interviewed in a clinic setting in connection with a check-up visit. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed for qualitative content analysis. The male cancer patients described their experiences through the illness trajectory in terms of suspicions, their encounter with cancer, and the cancer becoming a reality. During treatment, men described their experiences in terms of changes in body image, individual illness experiences, and new social roles. Men's experiences during the convalescence period included physical restoration, anxiety following treatment regimes, reflection, and social roles at transition. The results also indicated that men did not consider their status as a chronic one, but rather as a passing and relatively short stage in their life. Both intra- and extrapersonal resources were described: the former included body image and capacity, self-understanding, social situation, and psychological resources; and the latter wives, children, colleagues, health-care personnel, fellow patients, health-care interventions and society. Extrapersonal resources included informational, emotional, and evaluative support, as well as concrete help.