The hidden costs: a qualitative analysis exploring the experience of prostate cancer treatment-related side effects on sexual function and urinary incontinence among Black survivors and their caregivers

Aug 30, 2026

Purpose: Prostate cancer disproportionately affects Black men in the U.S., and treatment-related sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence can strongly reduce quality of life while remaining under-recognized. This study characterizes how Black survivors of prostate cancer and their caregivers experience side effects related to sexual function and urinary incontinence. Methods: Semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted with 11 survivors and 11 caregivers; transcripts were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. Results and Conclusions: Participants discussed key themes, desired clinician-initiated conversations, and highlighted needs to strengthen survivorship care pathways and resources.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Implications

Introduction

Racial inequities in prostate cancer

Survivorship and treatment side effects

(Additional sections present in the manuscript)

Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript | | HHS Public Access
Author manuscript
J Cancer Surviv. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2025 August 11. | | --- | --- | Published in final edited form as: J Cancer Surviv. 2026 April ; 20(2): 715–723. doi:10.1007/s11764-024-01681-5 . The hidden costs: a qualitative analysis exploring the experience of prostate cancer treatment-related side effects on sexual function and urinary incontinence among Black survivors and their caregivers Irania Santaliz-Moreno 1 , Marquita W. Lewis-Thames2 , Saira Khan3 , Marvin E. Langston4 , Hannah E. Rice3 , Allison J. L’Hotta5,6 , Amela Siječić3 , Ashley J. Housten3 1 Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences (DBBS), Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA 2 Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Rubloff 6-688, 750 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, USA 3 Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave. MSC 8100-0094-02, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA 4 Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA 5 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA 6 Prevention Research Center, Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, MSC 1196-257-220, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA Abstract Purpose: Prostate cancer (PCa) disproportionately affects Black men in the U. S., leading to high incidence and mortality rates. Post-treatment challenges, such as sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence, significantly impact quality of life yet are frequently overlooked. The purpose of this study was to characterize the experience of treatment-related side effects around sexual function and urinary incontinence among Black survivors of PCa and their caregivers. Methods: We conducted semi-structured virtual interviews with 11 Black survivors of PCa and 11 caregivers (22 total participants) . Survivors were eligible if they were diagnosed and treated for PCa within the last decade and caregivers were eligible if they self-identified as a caregiver for a Black survivor. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. [Corresponding authors](Corresponding authors: Ashley J. Housten ahousten@wustl.edu)[: Ashley J. Housten ahousten@wustl.edu](Corresponding authors: Ashley J. Housten ahousten@wustl.edu); [Irania Santaliz-Moreno irania@wustl.edu](Irania Santaliz-Moreno irania@wustl.edu). Author Contribution I.S.M.—conceptualization of research question, data analysis, writing—original draft preparation, writing—review and editing A.J.H.– conceptualization of research question, acquired funding, data analysis, supervision, writing—review and editing H.R.– Data curation, data analysis, project administration, writing—review and editing A.S., A.J.L.– data analysis, writing—review and editing M.W.L – conceptualization of research question, methodology, writing—review and editing S.K.,M.E.L. – conceptualization of research question, writing—review and editing. Conflict of Interest The authors declare no competing interests. Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Santaliz-Moreno et al. Page 2 Results: During interviews, participants spontaneously discussed topics covering sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Key themes identified from interview discussions included the physical experience of PCa treatment, knowledge of the impact of PCa treatment on life quality, and the process of navigating survivorship care. Although they received peer and familial support, survivors expressed a desire for clinicians to initiate discussions on sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Caregivers recounted their experiences whi

FAQs

What is the main purpose of this qualitative study?

The study aims to characterize the experience of prostate cancer treatment-related side effects concerning sexual function and urinary incontinence among Black survivors and their caregivers.

How were data collected and analyzed?

Researchers conducted semi-structured virtual interviews with 11 Black survivors and 11 caregivers, transcribed them verbatim, and analyzed the transcripts using a qualitative descriptive approach.

What key findings relate to clinician communication and patient needs?

Participants highlighted themes around the physical experience of treatment, navigating survivorship care, and a strong desire for clinicians to initiate discussions about sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

Aug 30, 2026

Upload by Ethan Miller