Are you worried that someone you love may have prostate cancer?
Early detection is key.
You can play a critical role in helping your loved one get the medical attention
he needs by getting him to the doctor. Catching a tumor early may help minimize
problems and increase the likelihood that the person you love can treat their cancer
successfully.
Get him to see a doctor.
No one likes going to the doctor's office. And problems in a man’s personal
areas may keep him away from the doctor. How do you convince a man to have his prostate
checked? Here are a few suggestions:
- Remind him that most urinary problems are not the result of “getting older”—rather,
they are manageable symptoms of something else
- The prospect of cancer is more alarming, but try to use the facts to get him to
the doctor. If prostate cancer is found early enough, the 5-year survival rate is
nearly 100%
- Draw a parallel to breast cancer. What if his wife or daughter or sister told him
that she felt a lump in her breast but was going to ignore it?
- Get him to make a list of his symptoms so that he can track them over time. If the
symptoms are bad enough, looking at a list may persuade him to call the doctor
- Offer to go with him to the doctor's office, or ask a friend or family member
to go with him
- Print materials from this Web site or make photocopies from a book, so that he can
read the information on his own time and decide what to do
But remember—support is important for anyone dealing with prostate cancer, including
prostate cancer caregivers.
While you help care for someone with cancer, it’s important that you take good care
of yourself, too—in both body and mind. Six tips from the National Cancer Institute
on staying healthy while helping someone else may help. Please consult with your
healthcare professional before following any of the recommendations below:
- Stay on schedule with your own medical needs: This includes checkups,
screenings, and tests
- Keep taking your medicines as prescribed: To save time, ask your
doctor for extra refills, and try to have your medicines delivered
- Maintain healthy eating habits: For your own sake and your loved
one’s. If your loved one is hospitalized or has long medical appointments, bring
along easy to pack but healthy foods like sandwiches, salads, and fruits
- Get plenty of rest: If sleep is a continuing problem for you, talk
with your doctor
- Stay active: Enjoy any kind of physical activity at least 15 minutes
per day. Walking, gardening, cleaning, or just going up and down the stairs can
help
- Manage stress: Giving yourself time to relax is an important part
of self-care. Read, talk on the phone, stretch, or whatever helps you unwind
Read the Caregiver’s Bill of Rights.
In addition to the tips above, the following thoughts, written by an unknown caregiver,
may help comfort you even while you do the same for your loved one:
- I have the right to take care of myself
- I have the right to seek help from others
- I have the right to maintain parts of my life that do not include the person I care
for
- I have the right to get angry, be depressed, and express difficult feelings once
in a while
- I have the right to reject any attempt to control me through guilt or anger
- I have the right to consideration, affection, forgiveness, and acceptance
- I have the right to take pride in what I’m doing
- I have the right to protect my individuality
Learn about
additional resources
Return to top