Psychosocial Impact of Getting A Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

I remember years ago going through a whirlwind when my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. To me, the fact that he was discovering something like PC at a time in his life when he was supposed to be living life to the fullest was hard for me to grasp. The hard part of this was that he got diagnosed with two cancers at once.

The stress after a diagnosis

I remember thinking, now what? Is he supposed to try and keep his health in check now? How do I know if it is too late to start exercising, eat different foods, or try and cut back on his activities? We both knew that having any kind of cancer puts a strain on your body, mentally and physically.

I know for me it was a very stressful time when he was diagnosed. He was put on certain medications and his treatments took a toll on him. My mind was trying to discover healthy lifestyle changes for him. This started to put a lot of stress on him which caused him much fatigue. Life became a roller coaster for us just hearing the word cancer and treatments. We both were scared at this time.

Coping with fear and anxiety

One thing I did learn during this time is that PC brings up a lot of thoughts. I kept thinking about treatments, how will I tell the family. You don't know how people are going to react to things. Just facing fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and a sense of loss that it became hard for me to cope with my emotions at times.

Looking for a new normal

Just speaking from experience of dealing with PC, it was stressful when my father started his treatment. This became his biggest hurdle that got in his way of getting better. Try to keep a healthy mind, positive thoughts, and a healthy body. I also know that the treatment itself can cause you some psychological damage. My father and I both had to look for a new normal.

Friends and family become our biggest support during this stressful time. Don’t hesitate to tell them your thoughts. You must talk openly about your feeling and what you are going through. I also had to join several support groups.

For me, it works as a coping mechanism when you let those thoughts out. Keeping things in your mind will start to eat at you and can do more damage than you realized. You should learn how to say things openly and you will be surprised how helpful it will be for you when you have the support of your loved ones.

Learning self-compassion

I also learned over time that dealing with prostate cancer comes with self-compassion. You have to give time for your thoughts and have some time to yourself. Don’t get me wrong, it is okay to feel bad for a moment, but only for a moment. You need to relax yourself and your mind.

My father and I both do hobbies and activities together. We look for support and even take our medication together. This has also helped us in reducing our stress levels over the years.

Try some breathing exercises and maintaining a healthy lifestyle - it may help with trauma and coping with your emotions when dealing with this illness. Just remember that you are never alone on this journey.