Men and women affected by cancer look for information about the disease in very different ways, a study of internet postings about prostate cancer and breast cancer patients and partners suggests.

While men seek medical-scientific and practical advice, women look for emotional support. Men concerned about prostate cancer were interested in cancer tests, symptoms, the latest treatments and side effects. Women concerned about breast cancer sought emotional and social support. They were eager to share their personal experience and the impact of their cancer on family and relationships.

Clive Seale, a sociologist who specializes in health and the media, ran this study to find out whether reactions to cancer are linked to gender.

Seale’s team gave survey questions to 45 women with breast cancer and 52 men with prostate cancer. In addition he collected 1053 web postings through an online poll and analyzed specific keywords in the online postings on two popular forums, www.breastcancercare.org.uk and www.prostate-cancer.org.uk

About half of the people on the prostate cancer forum were women who had a loved one struck by the cancer and many men had joined the breast cancer forum for the same reason.

Seale, who works at Brunel University, thinks his findings can help inform those who support cancer patients. He told the BBC that his results show that men could be missing out on help to deal with their feelings and relationships.

“Equally some women may be missing out on medical information. One could imagine that each gender could benefit from what the other gender is interested in.”

Links: Clive Seale’s Home Page