"But I'm (became) different": cancer generates reprioritizations in masculine identity

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. The disease accounted for 7.4 million deaths (or around 13% of all deaths worldwide) in 2005. A sharp increase in new cases to 15 million is predicted to occur by 2020. Recently, the National Cancer Intelligence Network showed that men have 40% more risk of death related to cancer, and in Brazil, it is estimated by the National Cancer Institute that there were 466,730 new cases of cancer in 2009, 231,860 of which occurred in men. However, there is little literature describing how Brazilian men experience cancer treatment related to their sense of personal masculinity.

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of cancer treatment from the perspective of Brazilian men receiving chemotherapy for various cancers.

This was a cross-sectional descriptive qualitative study using semistructured interviews with 12 men during a chemotherapy session at a major chemotherapy clinic in Brazil. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

The analysis resulted in the identification of several major themes. These were the life before cancer, the cancer treatment, reprioritizations of values, and a glimpse of the postcancer life.

Results illuminate changes in masculine identity among Brazilian men treated for cancer. Men are capable of reprioritizing and reestablishing a sense of order in their social worlds to maintain a sense of masculinity despite the challenges of cancer treatment.

Understanding the complex dynamics between masculine identity and health across cultures is necessary to develop interventions designed to promote effective coping with cancer treatment in ways that are consistent with the cultural context in which masculine identity is developed.