Overcoming Anxiety and Stress During The First Year Of Diagnosis

My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer years ago. I had a lot of questions to ask the urologist. He was kind enough to tell me what my father could expect with side effects and the cancer, including any odds of survival.

My father and I were nervous

First, he suggested a high survival rate, which is more likely when prostate cancer is caught early. Even so, when the doctor broke down the life expectancy of a prostate cancer patient, my father and I were still nervous.

I quickly noticed that my father's health was deteriorating rapidly. Stress and anxiety were the primary causes. It took me a long time to put together a strategy for him. We had to overcome the effects of stress and anxiety, and I had to do something.

A wake-up call

I knew I had to seek therapy for him. After observing a drastic shift in my father's health for the worse, my family urged me to get him help. For more than a few months, he received guidance and counseling twice a week.

He told me that this transformed his perspective and taught him that having prostate cancer does not mean the end of his life. He discovered that his view of the condition and the actions he takes can influence whether he survives. This was a wake-up call for him.

He didn’t want to just merely live, but to live well. He started a hobby, and eating well was in line with his goal to live longer. Meditation helped him to rid his mind of negativity and stay active.

Creating a helpful mindset

Following his diagnosis and recommendations from the urologist, he opted for surgery to treat the prostate cancer. It took some time to recover, but the doctor said he was doing well. His therapist recommended him to stay active. He made it a habit to exercise every single morning, which helped reduce any tension and anxiety to a greater level.

After treatment and counseling, he was able to clear his mind of negative thoughts and focus on healing and good memories. Now, he begins to look forward to healing rather than death. After a short time, he began to appreciate every single day of his life. His health began to improve once more.

His attitude began to shift when he began to appreciate the small things in life. I was happy about the milestones he had reached. And most grateful for the amazing family that God had given him. He stopped being harsh and began taking each day as it came.

Speaking up about our feelings

We have both learned how to speak with those around us about our feelings and what is needed from both of us. He realized people understood how he felt and needed their support. Gratitude fueled his desire to be well, and I closely followed the doctor's advice to ensure a speedy recovery. My father will be celebrating his 90th birthday soon, as of my writing this.

We are all in this together.