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 requests and key predictors of these over the period April 1996 to March 1998 are presented, in comparison with women. The most frequent requests of 411 prostate, 162 male and 217 female colorectal cancer patients were similar: site-specific information, emotional support, publications, specific therapies. Research or clinical trials (P< 0.05), diet and nutrition (P< 0.001) requests differed between men with prostate and colorectal cancers; complementary therapies (P< 0.05), prognosis (P< 0.05) requests differed between male and female colorectal cancer patients. Among prostate cancer patients, employed men aged 60+ were more likely to need emotional support than retired men aged 70 +; men