There’s a version of the cancer story we hear all the time. And then there’s the version a lot of guys are actually living.
For a lot of young adult guys with cancer, things can look pretty steady on the outside and feel anything but on the inside. There can be pressure to keep it together. To not make things harder for other people. To push through, even when everything feels heavy, off, or just not right. Then there are societal norms that might make it harder for guys to access support.
Research backs this up. Studies have found that men living with and beyond cancer can experience unmet supportive care needs, including psychological support, sexual health concerns, and navigating the health system (Chambers et al., 2015; Hoyt et al., 2013). Other research shows that young adults with cancer overall report unmet needs around counseling, information, fertility, and practical support, which is exactly why we don’t want to guess at what guys need. We want to ask directly (Keegan et al., 2012).
We Want To Hear From You
Ask A Cactus: Guy’s Edition is an anonymous survey created in partnership with I’m Not Done Yet Foundation to better understand what it’s actually like to be a young adult guy going through cancer.
We’re asking things like:
What actually helps when someone checks in
What makes it harder to talk about what’s going on
What people say that sounds supportive but actually isn’t
What people get wrong about your experience
What support should look like, but doesn’t yet
It takes about 10 minutes. You can skip any question you don’t feel comfortable answering.
Why this matters
At Cactus Cancer Society, we build programs based on what young adults actually say they need.
And right now, we know there’s a gap. Guys often show up less in support spaces, and they’re more likely to feel unseen in conversations about cancer. A lot of what they’re carrying doesn’t get talked about in ways that feel natural or accessible. We don’t want to guess as to why that is. We want to get it right. Your answers help shape future programs, conversations, and spaces that actually feel relevant and worth showing up to.
A little extra incentive
After you complete the survey, you’ll get a unique code.
Email that code, along with your name and mailing address, to programs@cactuscancer.org, and you’ll be entered into a raffle for a free LEGO set as our thank-you for sharing your thoughts and insights on what it’s like to be a guy with cancer.
👉 Got 10 minutes? Tell us what actually helps and what doesn’t.
References
Chambers, S. K., Hyde, M. K., Laurie, K., Legg, M., Frydenberg, M., Davis, I. D., Lowe, A., & Dunn, J. (2015). Experiences of Australian men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer: A qualitative study of unmet supportive care needs. Psycho-Oncology, 24(12), 1632–1638.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25613370/
Hoyt, M. A., Stanton, A. L., Irwin, M. R., & Thomas, K. S. (2013). Cancer-related masculine threat, emotional approach coping, and physical functioning following treatment for prostate cancer. Health Psychology, 32(1), 66–74.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26202128/
Keegan, T. H. M., Lichtensztajn, D. Y., Kato, I., Kent, E. E., Wu, X.-C., West, M. M., Hamilton, A. S., Zebrack, B., Bellizzi, K. M., Smith, A. W., & AYA HOPE Study Collaborative Group. (2012). Unmet adolescent and young adult cancer survivors’ information and service needs: A population-based cancer registry study. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 6(3), 239–250. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22457219/
