Högskolan i Skövde

Background: Prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer disease in the world and affects mainly older men. While having prostate cancer the treatment can be both medical and surgical and both these treatments can give side effects like erectile dysfunction, lost libido and hot flushes. Sexuality among elderly is often associated with taboo, but sexuality exists among elderly and is important for their wellbeing and quality of life. It is common that nurses don’t address and discuss questions concerning sexuality with patients, even though they know that sexuality often is affected while having a disease or experiencing illness. Experiencing health doesn’t necessarily mean the absence of disease and illness. Health and a body free from disease can still mean that the person is experiencing illness. Purpose: The purpose is to illuminate older mens experiences when sexuality is affected by prostate cancer. Method: The method is a literature study based on nine articles with qualitative approach. Result: The dataanalysis resulted in two catagories; not being able to live up to the masculine norm and an altered closeness in relation to others. Conclusion and clinical implications: The result shows that the men cannot live up to the masculine norm when they get a feminized body and when the sexual ability deteriorates. The result also shows that the closeness in relation to others is altered. The result can be useful within the care setting where nurses meet prostate cancer patients, it can contribute to a better care. The result can also help patients and their relatives to gain an insight in what may come with prostate cancer and in that way prepare them.