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Men managing cancer: a gender analysis

Lisa M Wenger1, John L Oliffe

  • 1School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Canada.

Sociology of Health & Illness
|August 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Men facing cancer often use three strategies: fortifying resources, maintaining normalcy, and persevering. These approaches reflect masculine ideals of strength and control, influencing their illness self-management and help-seeking behaviors.

Area of Science:

  • Sociology
  • Health Sciences
  • Men's Health

Background:

  • Limited research exists on how men manage cancer generally, beyond prostate cancer.
  • Gendered expectations influence men's health behaviors and experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how men with various cancer types engage in illness self-management and help-seeking.
  • To identify responsive strategies men use to navigate cancer.
  • To understand the role of masculine ideals in men's cancer management.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative study involving 30 Canadian men with diverse cancer diagnoses.
  • Analysis of men's experiences with self-management and help-seeking from lay and professional support.

Main Results:

  • Men employed three primary strategies: fortifying resources, maintaining the familiar, and getting through.
  • Participants utilized various "performances" to align with masculine ideals of strength, control, and stoicism.
  • Help-seeking was not universally problematic, but shaped by gendered expectations.

Conclusions:

  • Men's cancer management is influenced by gendered social contexts and masculine norms.
  • Understanding these dynamics offers a broader perspective on men's cancer experiences.
  • Challenges assumptions about men's reluctance to seek help, highlighting adaptive strategies.
Keywords:
help-seekingillness behaviourmasculinitiesmen's cancerpsychosocial oncology support

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