faced with choices for treating prostate cancer, Tim Henson chose radiation and inject a drug that lowers testosterone, the hormone that feeds your tumor, to almost zero.
Three months into his treatment, "I'm thinking to deal with the hormonal therapy will be the worst part of it," Henson says a 57-year-old dentist in San Antonio, TX. It has hot flashes, night sweats, sudden slots shouting, "brain fog," and a total lack of sexual desire.
"I mean, I was very sexually active for a guy my age, and the loss that was difficult," he says. "Any guy can say that from the age of 12, he had sexual thoughts at least 20 times a day. Now my screen is totally blank. "
Fortunately, the support of girlfriend, long-term Henson, Julie, help you find ways to deal with some of these side effects.
"It was through menopause five years ago, so she told me some ways to deal with hot flashes, how to put my hands on a cold surface or even a cup of cold water for rapid cooling "he says.
the most part, he worries about the effect your lost interest in sex will have on their relationship. "We just try to keep the intimacy as much as you can to sexual intercourse."
Wellbutrin Side Effects Weight Loss - Prostate Cancer Treatment: How to Handle the Side Effects
All treatments for prostate cancer have potential side effects, says Sean Cavanaugh, MD, director of radiation oncology in America Cancer Treatment Centers in Atlanta.
Even if your cancer is so early you choose to "just watch and wait, you have psychological side effects of waiting to see what happens with cancer," he says.
More aggressive treatments such as surgery, beam radiation, brachytherapy, or "seed", radioactive or hormone therapy can cause short-term side effects such as:
- problems sex, such as impotence, keeping problems an erection or reach orgasm, or loss of sexual desire
- urine leakage or feces
- Frequent or burning urination
- the diarrhea or constipation
- weakened bones
Sexual problems may not go away after the treatment stops. "Even if prostate cancer does not always mean the end of your sex life, it does not mean a change," said Cavanaugh.
If you simply can not get an erection or maintenance problems one, medications can help. nerve damage from surgery or loss of sexual desire with hormones is much more difficult to treat, says Cavanaugh.
He suggests "rehabilitation intimacy." Spend some time alone with your partner a few times a week. Focus on physical and emotional closeness, but without intercourse as a definition of success.
"We know that an intimate and loving relationship does not require the sex, but intimacy. Sexy spend time together, "he says. "Take the word sex out of the conversation, and define the intimacy together as rewarding time that is physically close. There are definitely some stimulating conversations that guys need to hear. "
After surgery, you may have a hard time with bladder control or bowel. incontinence pads or disposable underwear can catch spills. "Most men do not want to think about it at all," said Cavanaugh.
If you can not imagine wearing pads, try Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles around your urethra. Catheters can collect leaked urine so you can pour it later. compression devices can help you stop the flow of urine for a short period of time until you can get to a bathroom.
Do not cut back on fluid intake because they are afraid of leaks, says Nagi Kumar, clinical dietitian at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. Constipation or diarrhea after radiation are also unpredictable and embarrassing, she says. You can try an over-the-counter med to relieve diarrhea.
You may need to change your diet to get regular, she says. Eat fiber-rich foods such as fresh vegetables and whole grains, drinking a fiber or powder spoon in the evening orange juice. probiotic foods like yogurt or kefir, and prebiotic foods like nuts or grains, can help as well.
Hormone therapy can weaken bones, says Kumar. To keep them strong, she suggests:
- Taking supplements of vitamin A, vitamin D and calcium. Choose products with magnesium and phosphorus -. They help your bones absorb what they need
- Do 45 minutes of daily exercise, including cardio, strength and flexibility. This can boost your energy and mood.
treatment of prostate cancer and its side effects can make you feel helpless or depressed, says Kumar. It connects people with cancer survivors for one-on-one chats, where they can talk openly about the side effects of treatment. There is also a support group called us too -. You can find it online
Focus on what you can do to feel better, not what you can not, says Cavanaugh. "This can help you return to a positive state of mind and be back in control of your life."
reach out to others so you do not feel alone, Henson says, which updates its treatment progress for friends on a Facebook page. In turn, they posted pictures of themselves wearing blue rubber bracelets that say "Cheers to Tim!"
"It was incredibly emotional and uplifting," he says. "That made me cry. Support is crucial. "
