yyyLIVING WITH PROSTATE CANCER
• Improving Continence with Pelvic Floor Muscles
SUPPORTIVE CARE
A man who learns he has prostate cancer may have
a range of feelings, such as shock, confusion and depression.
Feelings
may change from hope and courage to despair and fear, and back again. Family
members and close friends have similar fears, concerns and questions. Such
feelings are perfectly normal in patients and others who are trying to cope with
a difficult health problem such as cancer. The distress associated with the
illness eases as treatment begins and patients and their families learn more
about prostate cancer.
Some men want to be alone to sort out their tears,
thoughts and emotions. This social withdrawal can upset family and friends who
want to show support.
Patients usually find that sharing their feelings
with family and close friends enables them to support one another.
A man
may be concerned about the effect of cancer treatment on his sexual activity,
the response of his partner to this change, and the effect on their
relationship.
A patient may feel uncomfortable with his body and worry
that his partner may reject him. Such fears are often relieved through open
discussion.
Most men are eager to know more about the disease and how it
can be treated. Other issues may involve:
• telling young children that their
father or grandfather has cancer
• telling teenagers, who may find it very
difficult to cope
• relatives who think the patient should not be told he has
cancer.
Patients and their families should set simple goals. Take things
gradually, and tackle one problem at a time.
Your doctor can provide more
information. Ask questions because a patient who is more involved with his own
care will often cope better.
DIET AND
EXERCISE
A good diet is
important in coping with both the illness and treatment. Some cancer support
groups and anticancer councils have booklets with recipes and tips on eating
when you are not feeling well (see Contacts).
Try to stay active and get as
much exercise as possible. The amount of exercise which is comfortable will
depend on your general health, how well you feel, and how much exercise you can
tolerate.
IMPROVING
CONTINENCE WITH PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES
After a radical prostatectomy, a man may lose
all or some control over the passing of urine. Exercising the muscles of the
pelvic floor has helped some men with their bladder training program after
prostate surgery.
The pelvic floor contains layers of muscle and other
tissue which:
• support the bladder and bowel
• have an important role in
bladder control
• may be weakened by prostate surgery.
More
information about how to do pelvic floor exercises correctly can be obtained
from your doctor.
CLINICAL
TRIALS
Clinical trials help cancer researchers test whether new treatments work.
Your doctor may ask if you want to take part in a clinical trial.
Before
you say yes or no, be sure that you fully understand how the trial would affect
you and your treatment.
You do not have to be in a clinical trial. The
decision is entirely yours.
Many cancer organisations and cancer experts
around New Zealand are part of national and international research programs to
improve the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.