Positive Transitions To Healing With Prostate Cancer

I was talking to my father the other day. He is now 84 years old. I asked him what his ultimate goal in his life was. His answer was “healing”.  He said that this was his number one priority. I thought this was very interesting and wanted to write what his thoughts were on pain and healing. He has had two types of cancer in this lifetime, so I’m sure he can shed some light on the subject.

These are my father’s words after his prostate cancer surgery...

Combating pain with positivity

When I was in pain; I was miserable and my body knew that something was not right. It was a full-time job for me to transition from pain to healing. My body is saying, no, no, no; please take the pain away. I have found ways to manage this unwanted thing called pain.

We all deal with pain differently and some people can handle more pain than others. I don’t do pain well at all. I realize years ago that being positive helps with the pain and I keep telling my mind that it’s not that bad. Long hot baths are very good for me and takes the pain away for a minute.

Taking it one day at a time

I have begun to think of my body as a GPS that tells me where to go. I try to navigate my time so that my body lets me know when enough is enough. My GPS lets me know when I am exhausted from treatments. It is amazing how much strength we get when we think we are done. I really had to change how I was thinking. You can’t think your pain away, but you can change your thought process of how the pain is affecting you and your way of life.

This disease changes us one day at a time. I can talk all day about the pain, but I want to share with you what I do to ease the pain. I’ve had those unexpected days when out of nowhere pain is so bad even with medications. I am old now, but I don’t plan on living my life in bed.

My simple ways to ease the pain

I’ve found very simplistic ways to ease my pains. I loved being outside. I worked on a farm most of my life, so outside is all I know. I have found that just planting flowers is helpful to me. I loved watching them grow, watering them and watching the sunshine on them. This is very calming to me. I do yard work for myself and others as well. I am out at least 3 or 4 days a week if the weather is permitting. I know that when I am in pain these little things takes my mind off the pain and transfers it to what I am doing.

Of course getting my proper rest is very important. I do sneak in a cat nap whenever possible. I find it refreshing what a few minutes of shut eye can do for you. I have learned over the years to appreciate things more. I actually listen to people with a purpose. There are some people I have known for years and they were just considered “people I know”, but now I have made them my true friends.

I am a big believer in drinking plenty of water every day. Water refreshes me and I don’t feel there is any substitute for it. Nothing replaces the thirst or works in our system like water. As a two-time cancer survivor, I keep that practices in motion.

Healing isn't a straightforward journey

Healing is a state of being healed. I know that my cancer is a chronic disease. I know that transitioning steps from my pain to healing is beneficial for my wellbeing. No one knows the pain that your body is in. People tell me how strong I am, but they don’t know how many times I have wanted to throw in the towel. It has not been an easy ride.

Dealing with this disease you learn some things; you also share some things that you hope will help somebody one day. With much gratitude for continued healing, I will continue to navigate my way to being pain-free.