| On an annual basis, approximately 200,000 men within the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer. In a variety of settings, health care professionals are called upon to assist men and their families who face decisions about prostate cancer treatment, and then afterward help them to cope with individual side effects. These side effects may be physical (e.g., incontinence, erectile dysfunction, hot flashes) and/or psychosocial (e.g., anxiety, embarrassment, self-image, withdrawal). Though literature exists describing aspects of men coping with physical side effects, less is known about efforts to adapt to psychosocial side effects. Furthermore, the dynamics associated with leisure or free time, voluntarily-chosen activity following diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer has not been explored. Leisure is recognized as a crucial aspect of quality of life, especially for older adults.;Utilizing a qualitative research design with grounded theory methodology, interviews were conducted to explore older men's definitions of quality of life, their perspective regarding leisure, and how the prostate cancer experience impacted their lives---in particular, leisure. Perceptions of quality of life included adherence to gendered roles and personal traits, significant relationships, health, and being active and productive. Events such as retirement were explored, along with "generativity" which focuses on older adults' tendency and desire to transmit wisdom and knowledge to future generations. Leisure was illustrated as a phenomenon that included constructs of time, activity, participation, relationship contexts, and as an antithesis to work-place attitudes and behaviors. Motivational factors relative to leisure, meanings derived from leisure participation, and barriers that impede leisure involvement were identified.;It was found that men diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer were able to cope and adapt to individual circumstances, and they sought to keep free time, voluntarily-chosen activities as an important of their lifestyle. Men's participation in leisure, recreation, sports, and hobbies, often with friends or family members was sometimes modified or altered due to the presence of treatment side effects. However, despite the presence of side effects, these activities still provided experiences that were enjoyable, helped establish and maintain significant relationships, and gave personal meaning to life. |
