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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Jan 7.
Published in final edited form as: J Urol. 2013 Jul 30;191(1):48–53. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2013.07.062

Table 4.

Unmet informational and support needs during survivorship

Unmet Needs reported during
Survivorship
Full Sample
(n = 30)
Themes
Difficulties in daily living 66.67%
  • Limited physical and social activities

  • Could not continue working

  • Stayed closer to home

  • Always on the lookout for public restrooms when away from home

  • Changed clothing style

  • Changed sleep habits

Treatment affected body image 20%
  • Did not like how the stoma looks

  • Did not like having scars

  • Felt less confident because of the altered body image

  • Felt less comfortable around other people

Treatment affected sexual function 43.33%
  • Had erectile dysfunction (men)

  • Lost desire for sex

  • Experience vaginal dryness (women)

  • Low libido

  • Patient believes he developed Peyronie as a result of his treatment

Had difficulty after surgery from sexual dysfunction 36.6%
  • Bother with the inability to ejaculate (men)

  • Painful sexual intercourse (women)

  • Had to learn new ways to sexually satisfy the spouse/partner

  • Difficulty having intercourse with spouse/partner because of body image

  • Intimacy problems with spouse/partner

  • Needed medication to help with sexual dysfunction (men)

Received professional help with sexual dysfunction 16.67%
  • Took Testosterone (men)

  • Took medication for erectile dysfunction(men)

  • Used lubrication (women)

  • Talked to a psychologist about sexual dysfunction

Would not change their decision about the treatment received had they knew that the sexual function would be affected 43.33%
  • Had no other choice therefore would not change their mind about treatment

  • Being alive was more important

Emotional distress after the treatment 33.33%
  • Felt depressed after surgery

  • Had emotional distressed after surgery

  • Felt sad

  • Not feeling “normal”

Received help with emotional distress 6.67%
  • Took medication for depression

  • Had psychological counseling

  • Turned to religion and spirituality to cope with depression

Worried about the future with regards to the treatment they received 23.33%
  • Worries about the future

  • Worries about cancer recurrence

  • Worries about self-caring in the future

  • Worries about urine control in the future