Prostate Cancer Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cEven if you\u2019re not ready to speak, just go to a meeting and listen,\u201d says Dr. Loeb. \u201cIf you\u2019re not comfortable telling your story, simply hearing other people sharing theirs can be good.\u201d\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Empower yourself as a patient <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s true what they say: Knowledge is power. And you\u2019ll feel more empowered and motivated as a patient if you have even a basic understanding of prostate cancer and your diagnosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But resist the urge to turn to \u201cDr. Google\u201d 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. \u201cIf you\u2019re not going to reliable, vetted websites, there\u2019s a high likelihood you\u2019re getting bad information,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s full of health information written by medical experts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t be shy about asking your doctor for specifics about your disease and progress. They should be able to share:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Think about a second opinion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nGetting a second opinion isn\u2019t an insult to your current doctor. It\u2019s a common step to make sure you\u2019ve considered all your options and treatment plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s advice, having that second opinion may help you feel more confident about your treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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: \u201cI\u2019m thinking of getting a second opinion. Can you suggest someone?\u201d Or, \u201cBefore we start treatment, I\u2019d like to get a second opinion. Will you help me with that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 5: Keep moving <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe 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. \u201cIt\u2019s especially important if you\u2019re on hormone therapy, which can reduce muscle mass and raise fat mass,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t have to be a pro athlete to benefit from exercise. One study in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 6: Eat well<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nCancer treatment can squash your appetite. Or, to soothe your nerves, you might find yourself eating too much comfort food. That\u2019s understandable, but it\u2019s important to try to eat healthy foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no specific diet fix. But eating well can help you feel better \u2014 and help you live longer in general,\u201d Dr. Loeb says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/em>, men with prostate cancer who ate such a diet fared better over the course of their treatment than those who didn\u2019t. A Mediterranean diet is high in fresh produce and whole grains. It\u2019s low in red meat, processed foods, and added sugars.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA healthy diet will serve you well even after prostate cancer is in your past. Remember, most people don\u2019t 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. \u201cThe prostate cancer diagnosis is often a teachable nutrition and exercise moment, when people are willing and eager to do some lifestyle modification,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n