I respectfully suggest that ALL cancers are 'couple cancers' based on more than two decades of counselling men with prostate cancer about treatment decisions as well as providing sex therapy to them and their partner. I have also seen multiple individuals with a range of different cancers and I have never seen their partner not be impacted in many different ways.
I suspect that, in part, the notion of prostate cancer being a 'couple's cancer' is due to the assumed role of the man being the sexual initiator so when treatment inevitably causes sexual problems, the partner is negatively impacted due to sexual problems.
I respectfully suggest that ALL cancers are 'couple cancers' based on more than two decades of counselling men with prostate cancer about treatment decisions as well as providing sex therapy to them and their partner. I have also seen multiple individuals with a range of different cancers and I have never seen their partner not be impacted in many different ways.
I suspect that, in part, the notion of prostate cancer being a 'couple's cancer' is due to the assumed role of the man being the sexual initiator so when treatment inevitably causes sexual problems, the partner is negatively impacted due to sexual problems.
Dr. Katz,
Good point on all cancers being "couples' diseases."
No sexism intended.
Glad to hear from you and that you are still advocating.
Thanks for the respect.
Howard