Abstract Single prostate cancer (PCa) patients may face difficulties in starting a new relationship for various reasons. Here, we studied barriers and enablers to starting a relationship for PCa patients and characteristics of patients who were and were not in a relationship. PCa organizations distributed for us a 20-minute online survey, consisting of validated questionnaires (on treatment side effects, loneliness, social provision, and shyness) and questions on factors identified by patients as barriers and enablers to forming a new relationship. Participants were either single [n = 20] or had started a new relationship post-diagnosis [non-single, n = 15]. Three factors—confidence, sexual function, finding the right person—were perceived of as factors that can affect starting a relationship. Fourteen of twenty single patients were confident that they could find a partner and sixteen were comfortable in disclosing their cancer diagnosis to a potential partner. Non-single patients met their partners through various ways, including online dating and social events. They all revealed their cancer status prior to starting the relationship, and most partners reacted well to this disclosure. Single patients were lacking emotional support, more shy, and lonelier than non-single patients. Clinicians need to consider biopsychosocial factors when advising single patients who wish to start a new relationship.

中文翻译：

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前列腺癌患者开始恋爱的社会心理障碍和促成因素

摘要单发前列腺癌（PCa）患者可能由于各种原因而难以建立新的关系。在这里，我们研究了开始与PCa患者建立关系的障碍和促成因素以及处于和没有关系的患者的特征。PCa组织为我们分发了一个20分钟的在线调查，该调查包括经过验证的问卷（关于治疗副作用，孤独感，社会提供和害羞），以及有关患者认为是构成新关系的障碍和推动因素的因素的问题。参与者要么是单身[n = 20]，要么在诊断后开始了新的关系[非单身，n = 15]。信心，性功能，找到合适的人这三个因素被认为是可以影响夫妻关系的因素。20名单身患者中有14名自信可以找到伴侣，而16名则愿意将癌症诊断信息透露给潜在伴侣。非单身患者通过多种方式与伴侣见面，包括在线约会和社交活动。他们都在开始恋爱之前就透露了自己的癌症状态，而且大多数伴侣对该信息反应良好。单身患者比非单身患者缺乏情感支持，更害羞，更孤独。在为希望建立新关系的单身患者提供建议时，临床医生需要考虑生物心理因素。他们都在开始恋爱之前就透露了自己的癌症状态，而且大多数伴侣对该信息反应良好。单身患者比非单身患者缺乏情感支持，更害羞，更孤独。在为希望建立新关系的单身患者提供建议时，临床医生需要考虑生物心理因素。他们都在开始恋爱之前就透露了自己的癌症状态，而且大多数伴侣对该信息反应良好。单身患者比非单身患者缺乏情感支持，更害羞，更孤独。在为希望建立新关系的单身患者提供建议时，临床医生需要考虑生物心理因素。