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Penile cancer is a rare and quite unknown disease whose main method of treatment is surgery. The purpose of the study was to describe men’s experiences with penile cancer, which has not been studied in Finland before. The data were collected in 2019 through individual interviews and letter responses from surgically treated men with penile cancer (n=14). The data were analyzed by content analysis. Men’s resources to cope with the disease were weakened by emotions that burden thoughts, fear of serious disease, feelings of losing manhood, the experience of being alone, worries about coping with family members, and financial worries. On the other hand, they were supported by building their own means of coping, having the ability to speak, having the support of family members, faith in the future, and accepting illness as part of life. The feeling of being cared for was weakened by distrust in healthcare professionals, lack of treatment options, lack of information about the effects of treatment, and organization-centered caring. The feeling of being cared for was reinforced by a sense of security about the caring process, honest information, involvement in decision-making, a meaningful encounter. More information about the disease is needed for both men and healthcare professionals. The information produced by this study can be utilized to develop of the treatment process for penile cancer patients and in the education of healthcare professionals. publishedVersion

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