Have you changed anything lifestyle-wise since diagnosis?
We often hear about guys committing to exercises and different eating habits. It can also get harder to be active and prepare meals with the side effects of treatment. What's it been like for you?
I made a diet change right after diagnosis. I moved to a mostly vegan plant-based diet. I also increased my cardio exercise, which mostly meant walking longer distances and doing it regularly. I also added some weight-bearing exercises I can do at home without equipment as well as some Yoga. Keeping my general health good was/is important to me. Boosting my immune system was very beneficial when going through chemo. I also increased my time meditating and just generally relaxing. I decreased my workload as much as possible and learned to say no. During the worst times I had others prepare meals. For the most part, I’ve been able to do everything for myself, but I’ve learned to ask and accept help from others. Though my prostate cancer is incurable, I feel better now - physically and mentally - than I have for years. And speaking of mental health, all the changes I’ve made has definitely made a big improvement in my mental health. That’s so important. Cancer can certainly take a toll on mental health.
Doug - ProstateCancer.net TeamIt's excellent to hear your experience, @Doug! It sounds like the cancer forced you to think more carefully about your overall health, and perhaps much more carefully about your mental health. We recently spoke to a Movember spokesperson who has stage IV, and he talked about how being part of that community gave him an opportunity to talk about mental health with other men. Thanks for these ideas! - Nina, ProstateCancer.net Team
Hi Doug. Thanks for bringing up the important topic of mental health. This issue often takes a back seat to the physical, but the reality is that they can be intertwined. I found this article on the "Psychological Complications of Prostate Cancer," which notes "Traditionally considered a group with few psychological complications, 10% to 20% of men with prostate cancer are found to have clinically significant levels of psychological distress:" http://www.cancernetwork.com/review-article/psychological-complications-prostate-cancer-1 (note: this is an abstract/synopsis from the journal Oncology). Hopefully, this issue will get needed attention. Best, Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
Hi Richard,
Have you seen Prostatepedia magazine before? Ustoo has a link to the pdf for the February 2018 issue “Stress, Depression, and Prostate Cancer” http://www.ustoo.org/anxiety-and-depression
Hi Doug. I was not familiar with Prostatepedia- thanks for providing that link. I was struck by the 97% stat of those who "saw a need for educational materials and resources to help recognize and effectively manage the symptoms of anxiety and/or depression that can result from a diagnosis of prostate cancer." Hopefully this number is not lost on the medical community, as it represents a glaring gap in overall patient care. Best, Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
Totally!
Not much
