Managing Side Effects Of Prostate Cancer
I am my father's caregiver, so I would like to share some more of his journey. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 72. When I look back at his life, I never would have thought that he would have to deal with prostate cancer, but that journey has become important in his life.
Today I want to talk about some of the side effects my father faced during this long journey and how he learned to manage some of them.
Sexual challenges
He struggled with a lot of sexual challenges after his treatment. Even though he was 72, he was also newly married. It was really hard for him to manage therapies and treatments. An old friend told him about medications such as Cialis or Viagra.
Sometimes he used to feel lonely, because no one understood him at all and what he was going through. In times like those, his counselor helped him a lot. I thought going would be good for him. He understood his mental state, and it helped him see how he viewed physical intimacy in his new relationship.
Bladder and fatigue challenges
After getting his surgery done, he faced a lot of bladder issues like leakage problems and wanting to go to the washroom all the time. Doing pelvic muscle exercises helped him face this challenge. He also asked for medications that control the bladder. Staying hydrated was helpful as well, though it was important for him to be mindful of fluid intake to not overdo it.
While getting his treatment, he used to feel exhausted and drained out all the time. To overcome this challenge, he made sure to have proper rest time. He also had a healthy diet along with some light exercise that helped him remain fit and have energy in the body. We felt having good food is important, like whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Emotional challenges
There were a lot of mood swings, excess sweating, and weakness at times. I think having a healthy lifestyle, and a diet rich in vitamin D and calcium, helped him overcome some of these challenges.
Coping with all the mood swings was hard at first. Sometimes he would get anxiety and depression. Dealing with all the stress that comes with cancer has been an important part of this journey. He started by joining a support group. He would write down his thoughts. It was a great stress reliever.
He tried doing things he loved and connected with family who supported him during this journey. And it helped him become emotionally stable.
Everyone's experience is different
Overall everyone has their own journey. These are the things that worked best for my father, but may not be a good fit for you. So if you are on this journey, just do what suits you the best. Remember to properly follow your treatment plan and take good care of your mind and body.
We are all in this together.
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