Men with prostate cancer are twice as likely to commit suicide, but a method where they putintrusive thoughts into words may reduce this risk, revealsresearch at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University ofGothenburg, Sweden. In a study at the University of Gothenburg's Sahlgrenska Academy,researchers surveyed the thoughts of 833 Swedish men before andafter surgery for prostate cancer. The suicide rate in this groupis high, and the aim of the study was to map the men's thoughts. One in four thought about death "Our results show that 73% of the men had sudden involuntarynegative intrusive thoughts about their cancer at some point before surgery, and almost 60% still had thesethoughts three months after surgery," says ThordisThorsteinsdottir, in whose thesis the results are reported. "One infour thought about their own death at least once a week." Lower perceived quality of life Her thesis shows that men who do not expect to be cured by thetreatment have negative intrusive thoughts more often. "Men whooften think these thoughts about their prostate cancer beforesurgery are more likely to have low or moderate perceived qualityof life three months afterwards," says Thorsteinsdottir. New method can recuce intrusive thoughts Her thesis discusses a method which can reduce these intrusivethoughts. Known as expressive writing, the method has been testedon other cancer patients with good results and involves getting themen affected to spend 20 minutes writing down their feelings on atleast three occasions after getting their cancer diagnosis. Easier to talk The idea is that this helps the men to put their intrusive thoughtsinto words. It is then easier to talk to friends and family, whichreduces their negative thoughts and so improves their mental health. "Health professionals could be better at communicating with men whohave had a cancer diagnosis," says Thorsteinsdottir. "If every manwas asked 'What do you think about your cancer and your future?'and we then took the time to listen, we might be in a betterposition to help them handle this new situation and prevent drasticactions such as suicide." Covers 4,000 men The thesis is the first from a study which, once data collection iscomplete, will cover 4,000 men with prostate cancer from 13 urologyclinics in Sweden. The study is being led by Eva Haglind from theSahlgrenska Academy. The thesis has been successfully defended. Prostate cancer and mental ill-health Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in Sweden. Eachyear more than 2,500 men die from the disease and more than 9,000receive the diagnosis. Long after the diagnosis, men withprostate-cancer diagnosis more often have a post-traumatic stress syndrome, with negative intrusive thoughts about the disease whichcause problems sleeping and anxiety . Thordis Thorsteinsdottir's thesis shows that men with prostatecancer who have these negative thoughts before surgery are morelikely to have a lower perceived quality of life three monthsafterwards. The results are based on a survey of 833 men admitted to 12different urology clinics, corresponding to 86% of all eligible menoperated on at these centres between 1 September 2008 and 31 August2009. The men were asked questions about their mental health beforeand three months after surgery. Additional References Citations. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China Electric Motor Manufacturing Equipment , Insulation Processing Machines, and more. For more , please visit Cement Brick Machine today!
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