Objective:

To describe the experience of researchers in the development of ethnographic investigations in the context of male illness due to prostate and penile cancer.

Methods:

This is an experience report based on field diary records about the conduct of two ethnographic researches, guided by the narrative method and the theoretical references of medical anthropology and masculinities.

Results:

The researchers' experience was systematized into three categories that present the links established between the researchers and the participants, the barriers experienced, and the male relationships during the development of the investigations.

Conclusions:

The masculinities performed by the participants made researchers face limitations such as access to sick men, from scheduling interviews to going to the home/family environment, that is, masculinities influence the development of qualitative scientific investigations.