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How have your friendships changed?

The prostate cancer journey can have an impact on many of our personal relationships. Have your friendships changed since your diagnosis?

  1. Yes but it’s my fault. I’ve withdrawn from friends and family. They pressured me into getting treatment and I reluctantly agreed but it has caused some strain. I’m happy to just take my dog for long walks (we walk 2 hours every day rain or shine).

    1. I honestly think I'm suffering from major depression. I don't know if it's related to ADT or just having cancer in general. I've talked to a therapist but so far I don't really see how it's going to help. Will stick with it for awhile though and see what happens.

    2. I know from reading your posts, how difficult all of this has been for you. I am so glad you have found our community and you are so open and honest with us. I hope in some way this helps you by knowing you have somewhere to vent. I am so glad to hear you are going to stick with the therapist. If you don't feel like you mesh with them, I would see if there is someone else in the practice that you may have a better connection with. Keep us posted, we are thinking of you. Jill, prostatecancer.net team

  2. Mostly gone

    1. ugh I am sorry to hear that. I really hope you have family to support you. Sending you strength. Jill, prostatecancer.net team

  3. Yes. Friends ask how I’m feeling. I had a tendency to over share. That caused some friendships to become strained. Other friends offer all this encouragement about all the great research coming; they are trying to help, but they don’t see that they are ignoring I’m stage IV; so I become distant with those friends.

    1. I’ve experienced some of the same gains/losses in friendships. Some of my greatest gains in friendships has been through Reel Recovery and I’m now a volunteer-it’s great therapy helping other guys adjust to living with cancer reelrecovery.org

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