Fed: Partners of prostate cancer victims more distressed

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

An Australian study has found women are initially more distressed by prostate cancer
.. than their male partners who are diagnosed with the disease.

Melbourne University specialist Dr JEREMY COUPER has told a national psychiatry conference
on the Gold Coast .. six months after diagnosis the man and woman essentially "swap places"

on the distress scale.

According to the study of 103 Melbourne patients and their partners .. at this point
the marriage or partnership really starts to suffer.





The study's found little difference in reaction between couples facing early or advanced cancer.

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

Dr COUPER says it may be possible to reduce the distress overall .. by working with
couples to encourage them to confront the cancer.

AAP RTV tam/tm/bart

KEYWORD: PROSTATE (SYDNEY)

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