The Prostate Cancer Support Center

Every person is unique, but when you face a challenge like prostate cancer, you are never alone.  Countless men have faced exactly the same diagnosis and have survived and thrived. The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge. 

TSC has scoured the Web to assemble links to the very best prostate cancer resources: articles, blogs, forums, and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional, and other challenges you're facing now.

As you’ll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this prostate cancer guide even more helpful to survivors like you.

JUST FOUND OUT

Survivors say: These are the best resources for Prostate Cancer

• National Cancer Institute: What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer 
• American Cancer Society: All About Prostate Cancer
• Medline Plus: What is Prostate Cancer?

The Big Picture

Prostate cancer develops in the prostate gland, part of the male reproductive system responsible for semen production. It most cases it grows very slowly, but it can also take a virulent, rapidly-growing form, which requires immediate treatment. There is a very reliable test for early detection of prostate cancer – the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. It is recommended for every male over the age of 40 to get this test as part of their regular medical checkups. Your doctor can also do a digital examination. For more information on these tests go to:

National Cancer Institute: Understanding Prostate Changes

Signs & Symptoms

Mayoclinic.com: Prostate Cancer - Signs and Symptoms

Your Prostate Cancer

Once you've been diagnosed, it's important to understand the stage of your case of prostate cancer and begin to explore what treatment options are available:

• National Cancer Institute: What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer - Staging
• American Cancer Society: Considering Prostate Cancer Treatment Options
  

For more information on how to assess your PSA report once you get it, visit this link:

Healthline.com - Understanding Your PSA

If you get a pathology report, take time read it over with your doctor:

Prostate Lab: Understanding a Pathology Report

Your World

It may be difficult to deal with the emotional impact of your diagnosis and also begin to make decisions about treatment. It’s important to reach out to those around you to find the support you need. These sources offer help:

• Ustoo.org
• American Cancer Society: Man-to-Man_Support_Groups
• National Cancer Institute: Prostate Cancer - Sources of Support
• PSA-rising.com

Prostate Cancer Myths

• "If you don't have urination problems or lower abdominal pain, you don't have prostate cancer."
• "Only old men get prostate cancer."
• "All treatments for prostate cancer result in impotence."
  

 

Information and Recommended Links for Survivors:

• National Cancer Institute: Prostate Cancer Treatment Options Overview
• American Cancer Society: How is Prostate Cancer Treated?
• Prostate Cancer Foundation: Treatment
  

Types of Treatment

There are four main types of treatment for prostate cancer:

Watchful Waiting (aka Active Surveillance)

ACS: Prostate Cancer - Expectant Management (Watchful Waiting)

Surgery

• NCI: Prostate Cancer - Surgery
• NCI: Radical Prostatectomy 

Radiation Therapy

• NCI: Prostate Cancer - Radiation Therapy
• NCI: Definition - Radiation: Radioactive Seed Implants
• NCI: Definition - Radiation: External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)

Hormone Therapy

ACS: Prostate Cancer - Hormone (Androgen Deprivation) Therapy

Other Therapies

Chemotherapy is sometimes used to treat prostate cancer as well:

ACS: Prostate Cancer - Chemotherapy

Possible Treatment Side Effects

Common side effects for prostate cancer treatment include urinary problems, erectile dysfunction, and rectal bleeding. Side effects vary widely, depending on severity of disease and the type of treatment:

Prostate Cancer Foundation: Side Effects

New Therapies

Gene therapy and immune therapies are currently being investigated, but are presently only being used in experimental treatments on a very small scale:

• NCI: Prostate Cancer: News types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials
• PSA rising - Anti-Cancer Vaccine
• Prostate Cancer Foundation: Emerging Therapies
• PSA rising - Gene Therapies

Holistic Treatments

There are a number of holistic treatments and diets recommended for prostate cancer patients:

• Urologychannel.com: Prostate Cancer - Naturopathy
• CancerTutor.com: Other Prostate Cancer Treatments

Creating a Support Circle

• Set up your TSC survivor profile.
• Join support groups of other survivors or start your own.
• Interact and provide updates on your TSC profile or the TSC forums.

Insurance Work Matters

Health Insurance

Most treatments for prostate cancer are well-accepted and covered by insurance:

ACS: Health Insurance and Financial Assistance for the Cancer Patient

Work

In most cases, even while being treated for prostate cancer, you can continue your normal daily routine, including work. Here's a helpful guide to your rights on the job

Working it Out: Your Employment Rights as a Cancer Survivor

Health-care Providers Who Can Help 

For a list of types of physicians and what they can do for you, follow this link:

WrongDiagnosis.com - Prostate Cancer Doctors

Resources to Find Doctors

American Urological Association: Find a Urologist

The Emotional Rollercoaster

Dealing with prostate cancer may take a lot out of you -- emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally. Give yourself permission to feel that full range of emotion and lean on others when you need to. There is no one way to feel about having cancer, nor is there only one way to experience it. This is your experience and your journey. Some people find writing down their feelings or keeping a journal to be helpful. Others find joining a support group (online or in-person) to be helpful:

• American Cancer Society: Man-to-Man_Support_Groups
• PSA Rising - Prostate Cancer Support Groups
  

Books Survivors Recommend:

• Saving Your Sex Life: A Guide for Men with Prostate Cancerby John P. Mulhall
• Prostate Cancer, What Every Man - And His Family - Needs To Know by David Bostwick, Gregory MacLennan, & Thayne Larson
• The Patient's Guide to Prostate Cancer by Marc B. Garnick

Communicating with Your Health Care Providers

• Bring a friend or family member with you to your appointments, not only to provide support but to lend an extra ear and ask questions you may not have thought of.
• Don't be afraid to ask any questions you feel you need the answer to, even if you may be scared of the answer.
• Write down any questions ahead of time and jot down the answers as your health-care provider walks you through them.  Don't be afraid to ask for clarification on anything. 
  

Dealing with Prostate Cancer: Information for Co-Survivors:

How You Can Help

• Assist your friend or family member with their day-to-day responsibilties if they need or ask for help, but don't throw off their normal routine.
• Preserve your survivor's daily activities. It's normal to feel protective but excluding them from activities or decisions contributes to feelings of helplessness.
• Involve your loved one with others and don't focus on prostate cancer or treatment when socializing.
  

What to Say

• "If you want to talk I'm here to listen."
• "Let's discuss your treatment options decide the best course of action."
• "I'm ready to help however I can." 

What Not to Say

• "Prostate cancer isn't usually a big deal."
• "Isn't cancer always fatal?"
• "Your sex life is over."

After you've finished treatment for prostate cancer you are beginning a new phase in your survivor journey: recovery. This can be a good time to assess and share with others how you feel emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. By telling your story, you can not only put into perspective your thoughts and feelings but you can provide hope to others who are going through a similar journey themselves, whether it be with prostate cancer, another form of cancer, or a completely different disease or crisis.           

Remission & Recovery

Finishing treatment doesn't necessarily mean that any worries about your health go away. Make sure you keep up with the check-ups your doctor schedules for you, and do all you can to lower your risk for a recurrence:

• WebMD.com: Prostate Cancer Guide - Care After Treatment
• Prostate Cancer Foundation: Lifestyle
• National Cancer Institute: Prostate Cancer - Follow-up Care
• American Cancer Society: What Will Happen After Treatment for Prostate Cancer?

Recurrence

Sometimes, unfortunately, prostate cancer does return: 

• National Cancer Institute: When Cancer Returns
• National Cancer Institute: Treatment Options for Recurrent Prostate Cancer 
  

Give Back

What helped you while you were dealing with the diagnosis, undergoing treatment and realized you had recovered? Take a look back at your journey and share with other what helped you and what you wished you would have known or done during your prostate cancer experience. You can create a TSC profile, reach out to other survivors, join support circles, and/or share your story by following the links at The Survivors Club.

Sometimes, prostate cancer progresses to the point where there is nothing more that medical intervention can do. This is devastating news to here, both for you and those who love you. These resources can help you to prepare, plan, and cope plan during this extraordinarily difficult time:

• American Cancer Society: What is Metastatic Cancer?
• Prostate Cancer Foundation: Managing Bone Metastases and Pain

When You're Facing Death

• American Cancer Society: Nearing the End of Life
• The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
• National Cancer Institute: Last Days of Life