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The Symptom Recognition and Help‐seeking Experiences of Men in Australia With Testicular Cancer – A Qualitative Study

Stephen Carbone (Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Melbourne)
Gordon Arthur Walker (Monash University, Victoria)
Susan Burney (Monash University, Victoria)
Fiona Newton (Monash University, Victoria)

Qualitative Research Journal

ISSN: 1443-9883

Article publication date: 6 April 2009

340

Abstract

Testicular cancer affects approximately 550 men in Australia each year. Early intervention, with the potential to reduce the burden of this serious disease, requires a strong understanding of the factors that influence help‐seeking. In the current qualitative retrospective study, the symptom‐recognition and help‐seeking experiences of 11 men aged between 28‐44 years who had undergone treatment for testicular cancer were examined. Analysis of the semistructured telephone interview data indicated that most men sought help early, and were treated promptly. A few men, however, described prolonged help‐seeking delays. The factors implicated in help‐seeking delays included lack of knowledge about testicular cancer; initial misattribution of symptoms; slowly progressing or low‐severity symptoms; a busy lifestyle; embarrassment about having a genital examination; and a fear of orchidectomy and its potential threat to masculinity. Further research using quantitative methodology is required to determine the relative importance of these various factors on help‐seeking delays.

Keywords

Citation

Carbone, S., Arthur Walker, G., Burney, S. and Newton, F. (2009), "The Symptom Recognition and Help‐seeking Experiences of Men in Australia With Testicular Cancer – A Qualitative Study", Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. 9 No. 1, pp. 43-59. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0901043

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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