Managing Anxiety During My Father's Cancer: How a Sweet Tooth Diet and Other Things Helped Me

Have you ever found yourself sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office waiting on lab results? Let me be the first to say “yes!”

The sweet and sour flavors from chocolates and candies always tended to ease my anxiety when I would go to doctor’s appointments with my dad for his prostate cancer. They even helped on those long sleepless nights when my dad was admitted into the hospital. While I love and have a knack for sweets, the sweets had a special meaning to me.

Here’s my sweet tooth diet and what it means to me, as it relates to our experience with my father's prostate cancer.

Important things when navigating prostate cancer

Get the answers you deserve

Milky Way: finding a doctor and team that is out of this world. Make sure they keep not only your physical health at the forefront of your care, but as well as your mental health, too.

100 Grand: ask 100,00 questions until you feel comfortable with the answers and responses that are given to you. Utilize your doctors’ teams as well as support groups to enlist the help you need to navigate your health journey.

Nerds: even after a diagnosis, continue to do your own research. Compare notes, but know that each patient may have different circumstances. Find others in the prostate cancer community that you can gain insight from.

Find support

Snickers: remember to laugh along the journey. Every day is not a bad day. Find those moments that bring you a slice of or ounce of happiness.

3 Musketeers: lean on your family and friends to support you as you navigate your health journey. When someone offers to help, LET THEM! I know accepting help can be tough, especially when you are a person who is used to doing things all on your own.

Symphany: find music that makes you feel motivated and empowered to continue to fight for your health. Gospel music was the go-to for my family during car rides, especially car rides on our way to and from doctor appointments.

Explore financial assistance

Whoppers: medical bills for treatments can add up fast. It is important to speak with your insurance company to ensure coverage. There may even be outside resources from your insurance that can help to cut costs for you and your family.

Recognize burnout

Kit Kat: as a former caregiver, I had to know when it was time to take a break and do something for myself. Often times, our lives can be so consumed with life that we tend to forget to take care of ourselves. Taking care of yourself may be going out to eat, taking a bubble bath, reading a book, or simply taking a nap.

Finding different strategies helps

All in all, it is important to find a variety of ways to navigate the cancer journey. Every day is not a good day, however everyday is also not a bad day. Finding various strategies can change the trajectory of how your treatment could go, how your doctor’s appointment can go, and how your day-to-day goes! Strategies that can enhance your mindset in return can help you, your family, and your friends.