Men treated for prostate cancer via radiotherapy reported sexual function challenges that negatively affected their masculinity and intimate relationships, while inconsistent sexual-health support, limited communication, and sociocultural masculinity norms left many without adequate counselling or follow-up care.
Key Findings
Results
Sexual dysfunction following radiotherapy for prostate cancer negatively affected participants' sense of masculinity and intimate relationships.
12 individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with patients who had completed radiotherapy for prostate cancer six months or more before data collection
Data were collected from an oncology department in Gauteng, South Africa between 1 January 2021 and 30 April 2021
Data saturation was achieved after completing 12 interviews
Men reported that sexual function challenges diminished their sense of masculinity
Relationship strain was identified as a consequence of sexual dysfunction post-treatment
Results
Four major themes emerged from thematic analysis of the interview data regarding prostate cancer patients' experiences.
The four themes were: challenges of living with prostate cancer, psychosocial consequences of losing sexual function, men's sexual health support gaps, and limited sexual health communication
ATLAS.ti 23 software was utilised to organise and manage codes
Interview data were transcribed and analysed thematically
The themes collectively captured both functional and psychosocial dimensions of post-treatment experience
Results
Men experiencing sexual dysfunction after prostate cancer treatment carry the emotional burden of diminished masculinity in silence.
Sociocultural masculinity norms were identified as a barrier to seeking or receiving support
Participants reported psychosocial consequences associated with the loss of sexual function
The silence around sexual dysfunction was linked to sociocultural norms specific to the African male identity context
Limited communication about sexual health was identified as a standalone theme
Results
Sexual health support at the Gauteng oncology centre lacked consistency, with not every member of the multidisciplinary oncology team involved in facilitating sexual health care.
Sexual health support for men treated for prostate cancer was described as inconsistent
Sexual health was often overlooked in oncology counselling
A theme specifically identifying 'men's sexual health support gaps' was developed from the data
Limited communication regarding sexual health was identified as a distinct barrier to adequate care
The study notes that sexual health support is under-researched in the South African context
Methods
A qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive research design was used to investigate sexual function experiences of African men following radiotherapy for prostate cancer in South Africa.
The study was conducted at a large oncology centre in Gauteng, South Africa
Individual face-to-face interviews were the primary data collection method
Inclusion criterion required participants to have completed radiotherapy for prostate cancer six months or more before data collection
Sample size was 12 participants, at which point data saturation was achieved
Data collection period was 1 January 2021 to 30 April 2021
What This Means
This research explored how African men in South Africa experience sexual difficulties after receiving radiation treatment for prostate cancer, and what kind of support they received from their medical team. Twelve men were interviewed at a large cancer treatment centre in Gauteng, and their responses were analyzed for common themes. The men described struggling with loss of sexual function, which affected how they felt about themselves as men and strained their relationships with partners.
The study found that cultural expectations around masculinity made it harder for these men to talk openly about their sexual health problems, leading many to suffer in silence rather than seek or accept help. At the same time, the cancer centre itself did not consistently provide sexual health counselling — not all members of the medical team addressed these issues, and follow-up care around sexual function was uneven.
This research suggests that prostate cancer treatment centres need to more consistently integrate sexual health support into routine care, involving the full multidisciplinary team rather than leaving it to chance. It also highlights that in African cultural contexts, specific attention may be needed to address masculinity norms that discourage men from discussing or seeking help for sexual difficulties after cancer treatment. The findings point to a broader gap in South African oncology care where patient quality of life — particularly sexual and psychosocial wellbeing — may not be receiving adequate attention.
Phahlamohlaka N, Engel-Hills P, Friedrich-Nel H. (2026). Sexual function and supportive care: Experiences of patients after prostate cancer treatment in a Gauteng oncology centre, South Africa.. Journal of medical imaging and radiation sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2025.102171