Prostate cancer can be a mental challenge as well as a physical one
A person coping with cancer may feel a lot of conflicting emotions.
When someone is told he has cancer, he may wonder: Is it my fault? Am I being punished?
Or can I control my body with my mind, and, by thinking positively, beat cancer?
Maybe I just need to relax…
But how?
These questions and many others are all a normal part of facing a disease as serious
as prostate cancer. And reducing the stress that comes with a cancer diagnosis may
help make life with the disease more manageable.
Stay positive, when you can.
One way to reduce stress is to think positively and keep an optimistic outlook.
Yet many people with cancer won’t feel particularly positive all of the time. This
is normal. Sadness, fear, and other negative emotions are all part of the experience
of cancer, and ignoring them or denying them may do more harm than good—making those
emotions more powerful, in the end.
Instead, admitting to negative feelings and looking for support from loved ones
can help. Talking to prostate cancer survivors and healthcare professionals who
deal with cancer regularly can also give new perspectives to what may at first seem
like a hopeless diagnosis.
Knowing your limits.
Just as it’s important to stay positive as much as possible, and to keep facing
cancer with hope and the support of those who love you, it’s important to keep in
mind that positive thought alone cannot cure prostate cancer.
Trying your hardest is great. But people who believe that the power of the mind
can halt the advance of prostate cancer may be disappointed and blame themselves
if their condition gets worse. It’s good to stay realistic, and to forgive yourself.
As far as research shows, good emotions can’t cure cancer. But then, bad emotions
do not cause cancer to grow.
12 quick ideas toward emotional well-being.
If you find yourself scared or overwhelmed as you face prostate cancer, consider
some of the following simple thoughts on how to keep looking forward with hope:
- Let go: Once every day, tell yourself, “Who cares?” If your house
is a mess, if you feel down, if you forget something important—let it go. No one
can do everything, so forgive yourself.
- Talk it out: Talk to someone you trust. Say everything. Hold back
nothing. Be honest, and let each emotion pass through you.
- Cry: Whether you’re alone or having a heart-to-heart with a close
friend or loved one—if you cry, just cry. You may very well feel better afterward.
- Hug it out: The power of touching another person can sometimes
achieve what words can’t.
- Try to have faith: If you were raised in a religion, consider whether
or not it would offer you comfort and insight into the meaning of life’s challenges
today. If you have always been curious, perhaps start attending prayer sessions,
or speak with a priest, rabbi, imam, or other person of faith.
- Be patient: You don’t have to dwell on your diagnosis or what surgery,
chemo, or other treatments will or won’t accomplish. Don’t count yourself out.
- Take naps: Besides replenishing your body, sleep gives your mind
a chance to unwind. When you wake up, you may feel differently than you did when
you lay down.
- Ask for help: Especially if you have children or a partner around
the house. Don’t feel like you have to do everything you normally do, and don’t
worry about being a burden. You have enough to worry about already.
- Treat yourself: Do something just for yourself, something that
will take your mind off your condition.
- Join a support group: Find a way to receive regular one-on-one
support with someone who’s faced the same types of challenges you’re facing now.
- Don’t blame yourself: For all the research, cancer is still mysterious.
You are not your cancer. Don’t look for answers to questions like "why me?"
- Keep active: It’s simple—working out feels good. Exercises with
smooth motions, such as swimming, yoga, and walking, may work better for you than
jarring ones, such as running. Avoid exercise that puts pressure on your prostate,
such as biking or horseback riding. Talk to your healthcare team before starting
any exercise plan.
No matter what, remember that you can reach out to others.
With 2 and a half million prostate cancer survivors alive today, there are plenty
of people to share questions, anxieties, and hopes with. Don’t forget that, no matter
where you are headed in terms of treatment, you are not alone.
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