{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,13]],"date-time":"2026-01-13T21:24:21Z","timestamp":1768339461195,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,31]],"date-time":"2024-05-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1717113600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Alive Charity Foundation through the Research, Innovation, Development and Trust fund University of Malta"},{"name":"Alive Charity Foundation through the Research, Innovation, Development and Trust fund University of Malta"},{"name":"Alive Charity Foundation through the Research, Innovation, Development and Trust fund University of Malta"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Lymphoedema arises when the lymphatic system has been damaged and may occur secondary to cancer treatment. While much of the extant literature focuses on quality of life in females with breast cancer- related lymphoedema, this study explores the impact of living with lymphoedema secondary to cancer treatment in males. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 male participants, aged between 50 to 85 years. Data collected were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The super-ordinate theme \u2018Hit by a wave\u2019 encompasses the profound impact of lymphoedema on the participants\u2019 quality of life. The males expressed body image concerns and struggled with feelings of frustration, anger, anxiety and depression. Physical changes such as weight increase, disrupted sleep, pain, swollen genitals and urinary difficulties were experienced. Changes in lifestyle were also expressed, such as an increased dependence on carers; work-related and role changes. Nevertheless, many participants endorsed the need to focus on the present moment and expressed a heightened appreciation of authenticity in life. By understanding the unique narratives of males with lymphoedema, health care practitioners together with patients can formulate care plans that truly resonate with the needs, concerns, and experiences of males living with lymphoedema.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0304577","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,31]],"date-time":"2024-05-31T19:15:18Z","timestamp":1717182918000},"page":"e0304577","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Hit by the wave: The experiences of adult males living with lymphoedema"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4692-5274","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Josianne","family":"Scerri","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9884-1972","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Sarah","family":"Cilia Vincenti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Galea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Carmel","family":"Cefai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Paulann","family":"Grech","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alexei","family":"Sammut","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Christie","family":"Attard","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,31]]},"reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0304577.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"848","DOI":"10.1111\/hsc.12698","article-title":"Work experiences of Australian cancer survivors with lymphoedema: A qualitative study","volume":"27","author":"S Kalfa","year":"2019","journal-title":"Health Soc Care Community"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0304577.ref002","first-page":"49","article-title":"Cancer-related lymphoedema in males: a literature review","volume":"5","author":"N Cosgriff","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. 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