What to do after you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer

Was your response to being diagnosed with prostate cancer fear or even anger? If so, that’s okay and totally normal. But, once you’ve processed the news, remember that there is treatment for this diagnosis.

“The leading cause of death among most men with prostate cancer is not prostate cancer,” says Stacy Loeb, MD, who is a professor of urology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “The likelihood that you’ll die of this is extremely low,” she says.

Still, you’ll want to do everything you can to put the odds in your favor — and get on the road to better health. These six steps can help set you on that path.

Step 1: Take some time to process the news  

Prostate cancer usually grows slowly. But be sure to talk about it with your doctor. “It’s important to address, of course, but it’s not an immediate emergency,” says Dr. Loeb. You’ll likely have time to think about your treatment options and make a decision you feel good about. 

Step 2: Take your emotional temperature

Are you feeling anxious or depressed? Worried about how your prostate cancer treatment might affect your sex life or your relationship with your partner? It’s normal to feel big emotions during any cancer diagnosis. If you’re struggling with negative emotions, it’s important to reach out for help.

Emotional distress may affect your decision-making abilities. Research from the State University of New York in Buffalo found that emotionally distressed prostate cancer patients are more likely to choose surgery, which may not always be the best choice.

Fortunately, there’s a lot of support out there for your mental health. “There are counselors who specialize in depression during and after treatment,” says Dr. Loeb. “And there are also many specialists who help manage side effects.” 

You might find solace and support in talking to other people dealing with prostate cancer. Ask your healthcare provider to put you in touch with local support groups. Or think about one of the peer-led support groups suggested by the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

“Even if you’re not ready to speak, just go to a meeting and listen,” says Dr. Loeb. “If you’re not comfortable telling your story, simply hearing other people sharing theirs can be good.” 

Step 3: Empower yourself as a patient  

It’s true what they say: Knowledge is power. And you’ll feel more empowered and motivated as a patient if you have even a basic understanding of prostate cancer and your diagnosis. 

But resist the urge to turn to “Dr. Google” for information or direction. Dr. Loeb led a study that looked at 150 YouTube videos about prostate cancer. She found that 77% of the videos had biased or misinformed content. “If you’re not going to reliable, vetted websites, there’s a high likelihood you’re getting bad information,” she says. 

Instead, ask your doctor to point you toward trusted educational resources. Or search the private health library on the Blue KC Care Management app. It’s full of health information written by medical experts. 

Don’t be shy about asking your doctor for specifics about your disease and progress. They should be able to share:

• The exact stage of your cancer. Stage is a measure of where the cancer is in your body, the size, and how far it has spread into nearby tissues and other parts of your body.
• Your Gleason score. This tells you how the cancer is behaving in your body and how quickly your normal cells change to cancer cells. Gleason scores range from 6 to 10, with 6 being the lowest grade and 10 being the highest grade. High grades mean the cells are very mutated and hardly look or act like normal cells at all.
• Your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) results. PSA is a protein produced by prostate cells. Levels are often high in people with prostate cancer. In general, the higher the number, the more likely prostate cancer is present, according to the National Cancer Institute. The same is true if the number continues to go up over time. If you have a PSA test, talk with your doctor about what your results mean for you.

Step 4: Think about a second opinion

Getting a second opinion isn’t an insult to your current doctor. It’s a common step to make sure you’ve considered all your options and treatment plans.

A second doctor might also be able to explain your test results in a way that makes more sense. Or they might talk through the possibilities from a different perspective. Even if you decide to follow your first doctor’s advice, having that second opinion may help you feel more confident about your treatment.

It might sound counterintuitive, but your doctor should be able to point you in the right direction for a second opinion. The American Cancer Society suggests starting the conversation with questions. For example: “I’m thinking of getting a second opinion. Can you suggest someone?” Or, “Before we start treatment, I’d like to get a second opinion. Will you help me with that?”

Step 5: Keep moving  

The fact that staying active is good for your health is just as true when you have prostate cancer. Exercise can boost your energy and ease treatment side effects, says Dr. Loeb. “It’s especially important if you’re on hormone therapy, which can reduce muscle mass and raise fat mass,” she says. 

You don’t have to be a pro athlete to benefit from exercise. One study in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship looked at walking at an easy pace for about three hours a week. That was enough to reduce the side effects of prostate cancer treatments.

Step 6: Eat well

Cancer treatment can squash your appetite. Or, to soothe your nerves, you might find yourself eating too much comfort food. That’s understandable, but it’s important to try to eat healthy foods.

“There’s no specific diet fix. But eating well can help you feel better — and help you live longer in general,” Dr. Loeb says.

Talk to your doctor if you want to make tweaks to how you eat. They may suggest a Mediterranean-style diet. Why? In one study in the journal Cancer, men with prostate cancer who ate such a diet fared better over the course of their treatment than those who didn’t. A Mediterranean diet is high in fresh produce and whole grains. It’s low in red meat, processed foods, and added sugars.

A healthy diet will serve you well even after prostate cancer is in your past. Remember, most people don’t die from prostate cancer. But heart disease is a leading cause of death among people with prostate cancer, says Dr. Loeb. And heart disease is largely preventable through healthy lifestyle habits like those discussed here. “The prostate cancer diagnosis is often a teachable nutrition and exercise moment, when people are willing and eager to do some lifestyle modification,” she says.

There’s no right or wrong way to react to a prostate cancer diagnosis. But there are steps you can take to feel more empowered to handle what lies ahead.