Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in both white and black males and has caused 30,000 deaths in 1990 alone. Early detection is critical to effective treatment and survival. While changes in sexual function, including changes in erection and orgasm, occur in the older man, most older men can lead a satisfying sex life. Problems may be caused by disease, medications, or other physical conditions that can be successfully treated. Under these physical changes and conditions are issues that arise from the particular life experiences and social roles of this generation that affect use of healthcare services or involvement in programs for older adults.
Older men come from a generation in which much of their self-worth was derived from work.
They may have prepared for retirement with a focus on financial planning but with little attention to knowledge or skills for coping with life after work. Some older men may resist showing emotions, talking about their feelings, or asking for help. This may make adjusting to losses more difficult, as studies have shown the grief process may actually be intensified by the in-ability to talk about or show feeling. Older men have not typically spent a lot of time and energy developing support systems outside of work and family that could help them with adjustments in later life. Older men see themselves as being self-reliant.