Fed: Partners of prostate cancer victims more distressed

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2007
Fed: Partners of prostate cancer victims more distressed

SYDNEY, April 30 AAP - Women are more distressed by prostate cancer than their male
partners who are diagnosed with the disease, a study has found.

Research presented to a national psychiatry conference has found that prostate cancer
sufferers initially cope much better than their female partners.

However, six months on the man and woman essentially "swap places" on the distress
scale, Melbourne University specialist Dr Jeremy Couper told delegates at the Gold Coast
congress.

"Initially the women reported much higher levels of psychological distress," Dr Couper said.

"But over the next six months, the women became less distressed and the men became
more distressed."

At this point the marriage or partnership really starts to suffer, according to the
study of 103 Melbourne patients and their partners.

While the patient's satisfaction remained stable half a year on, women grew more dissatisfied.

There was little difference in reaction between couples facing early or advanced cancer.

The study also found that women who coped with the diagnosis by either avoiding it
or blaming themselves were more likely to be more psychologically distressed six months
on.

"So if we could work with couples to encourage them to confront the cancer then we
may reduce distress overall," Dr Couper said.

AAP tam/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: PROSTATE

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