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Seeking input from all you guys
by cet13, May 28, 2008 03:16PM
Hi,
It's been a while since I've posted, as my husband went from crisis-decision time to flying to Germany for HIFU to now post-surgery recovery time. Knock on wood, so far so good.
I'm writing because I am also a grad student in psychology preparing to become a therapist. For one of my courses now, I am exploring doing a paper on maximal support resources for those with prostate cancer. What leads me to this is the sense I have so far that "men's cancers" -- at least prostate and I'm guessing testicular as well -- do not have the extensive face-to-face support groups which women have at least for breast cancer. The Wellness Community is case in point, at least the branches of it in my area.
And I'm wondering if any of you would be willing to share your opinion as to whether you actually prefer an online support group, whether you have done or would do face-to-face support groups, and if so, would you have certain "requirements" for how those face-to-face groups be constituted? For example, would you be comfortable in "general" cancer support groups that are mixed gender? Would you be comfortable in groups which are men only but covering all types of cancer?
It seems to me that the "hormone-based" cancers (breast and ovarian etc for women; prostate and testicular etc for men) are a "special breed" in terms of what issues they bring up and what degrees of privacy and shared-experience a survivor seeks for support. I'm wondering to what extent you feel that way. Or not.
Please feel free to also elaborate with any experiences you've had either online or face-to-face which make you favor one over the other or whatever your views are.
If you are willing to have me quote you by online pseudonym (as opposed to anonymously or not at all) please indicate in your posting and I will honor your wishes in that regard. My goal is to get a better idea of what "missing support" or "missing services" there are for the growing age group of men now getting prostate cancer.
Wives and other caregivers, moral supporters, etc., on here who wish to chime in as to your views of what works or not and what is needed or not are appreciated as well.
Thank you very much.
cet13
It's been a while since I've posted, as my husband went from crisis-decision time to flying to Germany for HIFU to now post-surgery recovery time. Knock on wood, so far so good.
I'm writing because I am also a grad student in psychology preparing to become a therapist. For one of my courses now, I am exploring doing a paper on maximal support resources for those with prostate cancer. What leads me to this is the sense I have so far that "men's cancers" -- at least prostate and I'm guessing testicular as well -- do not have the extensive face-to-face support groups which women have at least for breast cancer. The Wellness Community is case in point, at least the branches of it in my area.
And I'm wondering if any of you would be willing to share your opinion as to whether you actually prefer an online support group, whether you have done or would do face-to-face support groups, and if so, would you have certain "requirements" for how those face-to-face groups be constituted? For example, would you be comfortable in "general" cancer support groups that are mixed gender? Would you be comfortable in groups which are men only but covering all types of cancer?
It seems to me that the "hormone-based" cancers (breast and ovarian etc for women; prostate and testicular etc for men) are a "special breed" in terms of what issues they bring up and what degrees of privacy and shared-experience a survivor seeks for support. I'm wondering to what extent you feel that way. Or not.
Please feel free to also elaborate with any experiences you've had either online or face-to-face which make you favor one over the other or whatever your views are.
If you are willing to have me quote you by online pseudonym (as opposed to anonymously or not at all) please indicate in your posting and I will honor your wishes in that regard. My goal is to get a better idea of what "missing support" or "missing services" there are for the growing age group of men now getting prostate cancer.
Wives and other caregivers, moral supporters, etc., on here who wish to chime in as to your views of what works or not and what is needed or not are appreciated as well.
Thank you very much.
cet13
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