Support, information and identity: online discussions of male breast cancer patients.

Abstract

The experiences of men diagnosed with breast cancer remain poorly understood. Knowledge to date is based largely upon studies of female breast cancer patients or is derived from contexts that do not encourage discussion of sensitive issues. We report findings from an exploratory study of naturally-occurring discussions of male patients, posted on an internet forum. Participants perceived a need for more genderspecific support and information. A further main concern related to issues of masculine identity, in that participants had been diagnosed with a condition that was serious but also widely regarded as being relevant only for women. The consequent challenges to masculine identities present challenges not just for patients but also for researchers. Closer examination of internet forums offers one way of accessing discussions of such sensitive issues and of generating greater understanding of the experiences of male patients.