How to Support a Spouse With Prostate Cancer

Finding out that your spouse has been diagnosed with prostate cancer can be devastating news. A prostate cancer diagnosis affects the whole family. However, there are ways for you to help and support him. Once you are armed with the knowledge and tools you need, you can assist your spouse in making sound decisions for the best possible course of treatment.

Instructions

Learn

• 1

  Learn and understand as much as you can about your spouse's diagnosis and treatment plan. Knowledge is power, and knowing what to expect from both treatments and disease progression can ease anxiety and fear of the unknown.

• 2

  Ask questions. Talk to your spouse's doctors and medical care team. Be aware of everything that is happening and voice any questions or concerns you may have regarding your spouse's care and treatment options.

• 3

  Find support. Look to your local support groups and talk to other patients and survivors of prostate cancer. It can help to talk to someone who has already been through the disease and treatment process.

Participate

• 4

  Be involved in your spouse's care. Accompany him to his procedures, appointments and tests. Speak up and be an advocate for him, especially when he may feel too weak or ill to do so himself.

• 5

  Encourage your spouse to eat a proper diet, maintain caloric intake and get enough rest. Monitor his eating habits and help him make proper food choices. Help him to continue engaging in his normal daily activities and hobbies. Maintaining as normal a life as possible and keeping in good spirits are imperative in achieving a successful outcome.

• 6

  Help control the severity and frequency of side effects from treatments and/or medication. Be aware of the effects that may occur, and figure out strategies you can utilize to curb those effects. Keep all medications organized. Be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of side effects in order to help ease and prevent them.

• 7

  Reach out to other friends and family members for support. Organize activities and secure volunteers to help with transportation, meals and social visits. Don't take on too much yourself. Remember to schedule time for yourself. Do the things you enjoy, and talk to someone about your feelings. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by the responsibility of being a caregiver. Keep yourself happy and healthy, so that you may continue to help your spouse on his road to recovery.