Sexual health and wellbeing is the number one problem for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Movember wants to change that.
Across the world, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in males - with almost 11 million men living with or beyond the disease in 2019.
Advancements in prostate cancer research have helped improve the survival rate, but the reality is that cancer treatments can have side effects that negatively impact a man’s quality of life.
Studies have shown that the biggest issue facing men who have had prostate cancer treatment is sexual function and wellbeing. According to the Movember-funded Life After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis (LAPCD) study, 79% of men with prostate cancer reported problems with their sexual function. Few men with prostate cancer said they were offered help with sexual problems (medication: 41%; devices: 23%; specialist services: 15%). Overall, 57% of men were not offered any of these interventions.
Problems with sexual function can lead to challenges in intimacy, relationships, and identity. Reliable information or support is not always available, and that’s where Movember is taking action.
SUPPORTING MEN AND THEIR PARTNERS
Movember has launched a new section of True North, our information-rich website for men with prostate cancer. The new sex after prostate cancer section aims to eliminate the stigma around intimacy after treatment and provide men with straight-shooting information about sexual recovery. The site is also a great resource for intimate partners - helping couples talk more openly about sexual challenges and work together towards a better sex life. Go under the hood →
IMPROVING HEALTH CARE
We believe that better conversations about the impact of sexual health on quality of life are key for healthcare practitioners providing comprehensive and effective support to men and their partners. That’s why we’ve supported the development of new clinical guidelines for sexual health care for prostate cancer patients. The guidelines will support clinicians to assess and manage the sexual side effects of prostate cancer therapies and facilitate shared decision-making between clinicians, patients and their partners. The guidelines are the result of a collaboration by an international panel of 37 experts, across 14 countries with analysis of 25 years of scientific research.
All of this is made possible by your donations. And we’re just getting started. Donate today to help improve the lives of the millions of men living with prostate cancer globally.