Mental and Emotional Support
Prostate cancer can bring with it a lot of negative emotions and experiences: fear, worry, mood changes, distress, sleeplessness, irritability, and fatigue. Research has shown that 6 in 10 men with prostate cancer experience mental health distress, with 10%–40% having significant depression. Depression itself can affect sleep, appetite, and memory. Some of the treatments for prostate cancer themselves can also have effects on mental health. For example, hormone therapy can affect mood and thinking.
If you are struggling with stress, worry, and/or mood, know that this is common, and that you are not alone. It can be hard to raise the topic with your doctor; during an office visit that is focused on managing your cancer, he or she may not proactively ask about how you are coping. Ask your doctor or oncology nurse about resources such as support groups, social workers, chaplains, therapists, and psychooncologists. In addition, you can try strategies on your own to manage your response to stress, such as exercise, spending time with family and friends, and meditation.
