For Men with Prostate Cancer, Sex Still Matters

Canadians underestimate difficulty of coping with prostate cancer’s
impact on sex life

TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2012 /CNW/ – Two recent Leger Marketing surveys
probing Canadians’ perceptions of the most difficult things to deal
with if faced with a diagnosis of prostate cancer illustrate a
significant gap in appreciating quality of life issues associated with
the disease.

For instance, according to the surveys, while Canadians in general (32%)
and men who have had, or currently have, prostate cancer (37%) both
rated worrying or losing hope as the hardest single thing to deal with,
 the two groups had a significantly different understanding of the
importance of the impact of prostate cancer on a man’s sex life.

The surveys also suggest men who have or had prostate cancer rated their
sex life as the second most difficult thing to deal with when facing a
diagnosis of prostate cancer (23%) whereas Canadian men ranked sex life
as sixth overall (4%). Of those affected by prostate cancer, men from
Atlantic Canada (32%) and Ontario (28%) are more likely to worry about
their sex lives after their prostate cancer diagnosis compared to those
in Quebec (15%).

“Prostate cancer can affect men on a number of levels,” says Dr.
Jean-Baptiste Lattouf, MD, FRCS (C) uro-oncologist, laparoscopist,
assistant professor at the Surgery Department of the Hospital Center of
the University of Montreal (CHUM). “The disease can most definitely
impact a man’s sexual relationship with his partner, but I also think
the issue of hope is an important one. It challenges us to better
understand how we can help men, whether it’s through better
information, new or improved treatments, or stronger support, during
their cancer journey.”

Jackie Manthorne, president and CEO of the Canadian Cancer Survivors
Network (CCSN), concurs. “This survey highlights a number of important
points,” says Manthorne. “We know that sexual intimacy is an ongoing
challenge for many prostate cancer patients, and indeed, cancer
patients in general. Healthcare professionals need to ensure they take time to encourage
patients to express their concerns. Quality of life issues are very
real for prostate cancer patients and survivors and they need to be
better understood and managed.”

The results indicate feeling embarrassed, knowing their illness has an
impact on loved ones, and being unable to access new and better
treatments round out prostate cancer sufferers’ top five ranking of
their most difficult issues.

Talking about prostate cancer

According to the survey, most men are comfortable discussing with others
the fact they have or have had prostate cancer and are not embarrassed
to tell people about it.( )In addition, 83% of respondents agreed that people around them are
sympathetic about their condition.( )

But for the Canadians who have had to deal with a diagnosis of prostate
cancer, the survey reports as many as 30% feel that the people around
them do not think that prostate cancer is important.( )Additionally, 44% of respondents agree that their family and friends
don’t understand how serious a disease prostate cancer is.( )

“We need to continue educating people about the seriousness of the
disease,” says Manthorne. “It is true that many people live long and
fulfilling lives with prostate cancer, but others aren’t so lucky.
Prostate cancer is still cancer. It needs to be taken seriously.”

Regional findings from this survey:

        --  87% of men are comfortable discussing with others that they
            have or have had prostate cancer; the same proportion says they
            are notembarrassed to tell people about it.
      o Men who are married are lesslikely to be comfortable discussing
        that they have/had prostate cancer with others compared to men who
        are single, widowed, divorced or separated (85% vs. 93%).
      o Regionally, men from Atlantic Canada are the most likely to feel
        comfortable discussing this with others (98% vs. 86% rest of
        Canada).
      o Men from Quebec are the mostlikely to feel embarrassed about their
        diagnosis (40% vs. 15% rest of Canada).
        --  83% of men who have or have had prostate cancer agreethat
            people around them are sympathetic about their condition.
      o Regionally, men from B.C. (92%) are more likely to agree that
        people around them are sympathetic towards their condition compared
        to men from Quebec (81%) and Atlantic Canada (77%).

“We continue to make strides in our understanding of the disease from
both a medical and social perspective,” says Dr. Lattouf. “Ongoing
dialogue will only help our progress to better understand what men need
to successfully address their challenges during and after their
treatment.”

About the Research

The survey, commissioned by Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., was completed
online by Leger Marketing from October 3, 2012 to October 9, 2012 with
a sample of 603 Canadian men who currently have or have had prostate
cancer. A previous survey completed online from July 30, 2012 to August
1, 2012, with a sample of 1500 Canadians, was used for comparison.

A probability sample for men who have/had prostate cancer of the same
size would yield a margin of error of ±2.5 %, 19 times out of 20. A
probability sample for Canadians in general of the same size would
yield a margin of error of ± 4.0%, 19 times out of 20.

About the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN)

The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network was created by a group of Canadians
concerned about cancer. CCSN’s mission is to empower collaborative
action by cancer patients, families and communities to identify and
work to remove barriers to optimal patient care, and to ensure that
cancer survivors have access to education and action opportunities to
have their voices heard in planning and implementing an optimal health
care system. CCSN is committed to educate the public and policy makers
about the financial, emotional and health costs of cancer and offer
considered, positive ideas and recommendations to alleviate their
effects. To learn more, visit www.survivornet.ca.

Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.

Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., headquartered in Markham, ON, is a
Canadian affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc.

Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health
of people around the world through the provision of innovative and
reliable pharmaceutical products.

The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in
focused areas by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities.

In Canada, Astellas has an intense commercial focus on five therapeutic
areas – Urology, Immunology, Infectious Disease, Dermatology and
Oncology.

For more information about Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., please visit
the corporate website:  www.astellas.ca

SOURCE Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.