Do men with prostate or colorectal cancer seek different information and support from women with cancer?

Male cancer patients' use of a national cancer information service, their r equests and key predictors of these over the period April 1996 to March 199 8 are presented, in comparison with women. The most frequent requests of 41 1 prostate, 162 male and 217 female colorectal cancer patients were similar : site-specific information, emotional support, publications, specific ther apies. Research or clinical trials (P < 0.05), diet and nutrition (P < 0.00 1) requests differed between men with prostate and colorectal cancers; comp lementary therapies (P < 0.05), prognosis (P < 0.05) requests differed betw een male and female colorectal cancer patients. Among prostate cancer patie nts, employed men aged 60+ were more likely to need emotional support than retired men aged 70+; men < 59 years old were more likely to request public ations, but less likely to enquire about specific therapies than others. Am ong male colorectal cancer patients, employed men were less likely to reque st site-specific information, but more likely to need emotional support tha n retired men; patients from geographical areas other than Thames were more likely to request publications; patients from manual classes were less lik ely to enquire about specific therapies than those from non-manual classes. The complexity of information and support seeking behaviour is demonstrate d; no pattern was found among men or in comparison with women. Further rese arch is needed to enable development of services that are appropriate to in dividual needs and concerns. (C) 2001 Cancer Research Campaign.