Prostate Cancer Disclosure and Sexual Orientation: Understanding Outness to Health Carers as a Situational or Consistent Phenomenon

Abstract Objective In this study, we investigated if outness is more a situational or a consistentcharacteristic in GBM treated for prostate cancer and how the disclosure of sexual orientationimpacts provider discussions of sexual side effects. Methods Data came from Restore, an online cross-sectional survey of 193 GBM prostate cancersurvivors living in North America and were analyzed using various statistical models. Results Disclosure of sexual orientation and of living with prostate cancer were not significantlycorrelated. Participants who were out regarding sexual orientation were more likely to report thattheir surgeons and urologists discussed the sexual side effects of treatment. Conclusion Outness appears to be a situational phenomenon. GBM prostate cancer survivors who were out regarding sexual orientation received more discussion surrounding sexual sideeffects of prostate cancer treatment from their providers. Practice Implications It is important for healthcare providers to inquire about patient’s sexual orientation to provide holistic care to these patients to address health disparities within this group.