You can make changes in your life that may:
Smoking raises the risk of other health problems. It slows healing and causes harm to the body.
When you quit smoking, the body heals itself right away. Quitting will help boost your immune system to help fight the cancer. It will help you feel better while you’re getting treated. It will also lower your risk of future cancers.
Cancer and how it is treated slow the body's immune system. This can raise the risk of infection. It also makes common infections more serious. To lower your infection risk:
Eating the right foods will help your overall health, energy, mood, and how fast you can get better.
Getting cancer treated can lower your hunger level. You need to be able to get the most from the foods you eat and stop weight loss. A dietitian can help you plan meals.
If you have not been exercising regularly, check with your doctor to choose a safe exercise program. Even light exercise can help you feel better. It will also make you feel better during times of stress.
Exercise will boost your:
Talk to a personal trainer to help you set exercise goals. While adding exercise, be sure to balance rest and activities so you don't get too tired.
Feeling very tired is the most common side effect with cancer and how it is treated. To help from getting overtired, list your tasks and focus on what needs to be done first. Let others help you with daily chores, shopping, and making meals. Make sure to plan to get rest when you need to. You will also feel more tired if you’re not eating right.
Talk to your doctor if you’re so tired it makes it hard for you to get through the day.
Finding out you have cancer is a major event that can be hard to handle. Facing a serious illness, feeling anxious about treatment, changes in your life, and worrying about cancer’s impact can be overwhelming. You will need to rely on family, friends, and other people in your life. People who seek help when they have cancer can often keep better emotional balance. Other sources of support are:
Family and caregivers may also need support. Encourage them to seek support groups or counseling geared toward them.
Prostate cancer found in later stages can be harder to treat. Some people choose ways to ease related health problems or to stop treatment completely. It may be realistic to begin end-of-life planning. This may mean:
If you need guidance, talk to a member of your healthcare team. You can be referred to an expert who can guide you through the process.
Prostate cancer. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/prostate-cancer. Updated October 16, 2018. Accessed December 11, 2019.
Stay healthy. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/healthy.html. Accessed December 11, 2019.
Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Nicole Meregian, PA