“Male-specific cancers can be especially difficult experiences for men to manage emotionally. The toll of the illness cuts at the heart of beliefs about manhood, masculinity, and identity.”
CancerCare oncology social worker Floyd Allen, LMSW, was featured as a guest columnist in this month’s issue of issue of Oncology Nursing News. In his article, “Supporting Men With Cancer: A Social Worker’s Perspective,” Allen discusses the complex emotional toll of men’s cancers, and the role of the social worker in helping patients cope.
“What am I supposed to do now?” “Am I going to live?” “How can I survive this?”
These are just some of the many fundamental and profound questions raised by men in individual counseling sessions and support groups, says Allen. Social workers cannot “fix” problems. Instead, they support men by helping them identify their strengths, mobilize their resources, and get insight into what is valuable and important in their lives.
The aim, says Allen, is to help men with cancer improve their quality of life so they can better meet the demands of their illness and the treatment process.
