A gay man's guide to prostate cancer Book

Discover the facts about—and personal stories of—gay men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

One man in six, (According to the American Cancer Society) will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. A Gay Man’s Guide to Prostate Cancer explores the medical facts as well as the personal experiences of medical and mental health professionals and gay men from different walks of life. This insightful examination from the perspective of being gay in a predominantly heterosexual medical world emphasizes the unique concerns gay men have when confronted with this life-altering disease.

The status quo of the medical world is heterosexually assumptive. A Gay Man’s Guide to Prostate Cancer shifts the perspective to gay men’s needs, challenges, and experiences when faced with this critical health risk. The book is divided into a professional section that covers the medical and psychological aspects affecting gay men, and an experiential section in which gay men of varying ages, ethnicities, races, and HIV status describe their own very personal feelings and experiences regarding their diagnosis, treatment, and side-effects. A helpful glossary provided for the layperson explains the meanings of medical words and phrases.

A Gay Man’s Guide to Prostate Cancer discusses:

-the basics of prostate cancer—with an overview of causes, diagnosis, screening guidelines, and treatments
-the history of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment—and some unique concerns that gay men face when consulting a urologist and making treatment decisions
-the practical questions regarding gay sex after treatment—with a matter-of-fact primer pertaining to what may happen during and what to do after treatment
-the depression and anxiety that gay men will likely experience—with a look at the stigmatization and alienation that may occur in the heterosexually biased world
-the dynamics and concerns of diagnosed gay men within the context of a self-help group—with topics that include gay identities, sexual behaviors and attitudes, feelings of helplessness, and HIV/AIDS considerations
-how the surgical removal of one patient’s prostate gland affected him emotionally—and physically
-how a patient’s diagnosis challenged his sexuality—and moved him to work at alerting other men of color to their increased risk of developing prostate cancer
-a patient’s sexual dysfunction following radical surgery—and why he formed a gay men’s prostate cancer support group
-how sex has evolved for cancer surviors
-the impact of cancer on couples’ relationships—and the importance of being proactive about treatment

A Gay Man’s Guide to Prostate Cancer fills the gap in the literature about gay men challenged with prostate cancer, making it vital reading for physicians, psychotherapists, gay men faced with positive diagnosis, and of course, friends and loved ones.