Take The Journey

Many men being treated for advance prostate cancer say it’s important for them to participate as fully as possible in their career, relationships and everyday life events. Others find a need to take a step back and reflect on their diagnosis and treatment before resuming daily activities.  Regardless of your own approach, you may find that symptoms of the disease and medical treatments have a significant effect on you physically. They may prevent you from taking in or properly processing adequate nutrients. In addition, you may not feel energetic enough to participate in physical exercise or some of your routine daily activities.

Advanced Prostate Cancer and Nutrition

The challenge of getting adequate nutrition is fairly common for people being treated for many types of cancer, including prostate. The American Cancer Society recommends that people with cancer get enough nutrients to meet the following goals:

• Prevent or reverse nutritional deficiencies
• Decrease side effects of cancer and its treatment
• Maximize your quality of life

If you are experiencing gastrointestinal or other symptoms that preventing you from eating, your healthcare team may recommend supplemental vitamins or nutrition-enriched beverages to keep you adequately nourished or hydrated. Some people find that eating more frequent and smaller meals throughout the day helps them to eat more and keep food down.  Your physician may recommend that you maintain high levels of protein in your diet; healthful foods might include fish, lean meat and poultry, eggs, nonfat and low-fat dairy products, nuts, seeds and legumes. Carbohydrates in your diet should ideally be made up of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Eating properly can be challenging, especially if treatment causes symptoms such as gastrointestinal upset or loss of appetite. If you have advanced prostate cancer, it is likely that you have already been through some form of treatment and may be starting your next treatment phase in an underweight state or with some nutritional deficits. The American Cancer Society advises that maintaining energy and preventing weight loss are the most important nutritional goals for cancer survivors who are at risk for unintentional weight loss during active cancer treatment. So consider talking with your healthcare team about the most effective ways to bolster your nutrition intake, whether through supplemental drinks or protein-dense snacks throughout the day.

Physical Activity and Exercise

Advanced prostate cancer can also affect the amount of exercise you undertake. Having or being treated for cancer can result in loss of lean muscle mass, as well as fatigue. Studies have shown that for someone with cancer, exercising can help reduce fatigue symptoms and improve mood. Also, certain types of therapy to treat prostate cancer can contribute to osteoporosis; weight-bearing exercise may be beneficial for your bones. Some men with advanced prostate cancer say they’ve taken a renewed interest in staying physically fit and exercise more now than they did before their diagnosis. Further research is needed to better determine potential benefits or adverse effects of exercise during prostate cancer treatment.

Getting adequate exercise during cancer treatment has been shown to provide important benefits related to physical and functional well-being. Yet treatment-related fatigue or body pain can make it difficult to muster the desire or energy for exercise. Speak with your healthcare team to tailor an exercise regimen that works well for you. For instance, prior therapy may have resulted in little time or energy to exercise, so your physician may advise you to build up your stamina slowly with moderate amounts of cardiovascular exercise, such as short walks, and some simple stretching. Treatment may also have affected your sense of balance, so it’s important to assess this before embarking on an exercise routine that can risk a fall. If you are already engaged in an optimal exercise routine, try to keep it going during treatment.

Staying active and eating well can help make you as strong as possible as you continue on your cancer journey.  Be sure to take a look at the Resources page for additional information to support your health and wellness.

CLICK HERE FOR DOWNLOADABLE AND PRINTABLE QUESTIONS FOR YOU DOCTOR ABOUT NUTRITION AND EXERCISE

Watching someone you care about deal with the side effects of treatment for advanced prostate cancer can be upsetting and frustrating. You may be concerned about the effect of his treatment on his appetite, energy levels or body in general. These worries are all valid, but there may be steps you can take to help his overall health in a meaningful way.

Nutrition Tips:

• Encourage your loved one to drink small sips of water, broth, or other liquids recommended by his healthcare provider, throughout the day. All of those sips can add up to an adequate amount by day’s end, and it’s important that he stay hydrated.
• Try to figure out when his appetite is at its peak most days, whether morning, noon or night. This could be the right time to entice him with more food options.
• Try to involve him in the food choices so he has access to what is most appealing at different stages of his treatment regimen.
• Try to serve him foods that are high in protein and low in saturated fats. Prepare these foods for yourself and the family, so you are in this healthy eating regimen together.
• There is debate even within the medical community about which and how much of certain vitamins or supplements may be helpful for people with cancer. Check with his healthcare team first before offering your loved one vitamins or supplements as there may be an adverse interaction with certain types of cancer treatments.

Exercise Tips:

• Studies have shown that exercising is an important part of an overall wellness plan for people with cancer, and may lead to reduced fatigue symptoms and improved mood.
• Exercising as a family or with friends may be motivating. Try to organize a group walk in the neighborhood or in a shopping mall. Or encourage friends to do a “walk-by” instead of driving over, and to invite your loved one along.
• Certain types of therapy to treat prostate cancer can contribute to osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking or lifting hand weights, may be beneficial for bones.
• Check with local cancer support groups, as well as hospitals and community centers, to see if they offer local exercise classes that are geared for people with cancer. A list of support groups and other resources can be found here.

CLICK HERE FOR DOWNLOADABLE AND PRINTABLE NUTRITION AND EXERCISE TIPS

Appoint yourself as “roadside assistance” for your loved one with advanced prostate cancer, supporting his efforts as he works toward fitness.

Caring for Yourself

While caring for your loved one, it’s important to take steps to prevent your own engine from stalling! Studies show that a prostate cancer diagnosis can affect a partner as strongly as it affects the man himself. You are under a great deal of stress, too, and your physical health can be improved. Though you may think you’re too busy, try as hard as you can to eat properly and exercise. Remember your own nutritional needs when preparing healthy foods for your loved one. Exercising together can also help keep you both motivated to move.

Though your mind and energies may be focused primarily on your loved one, it’s also acceptable – and even advisable – to take a break that is truly for you. Many caregivers find comfort in attending support groups for families of men with prostate cancer, or in simply spending time with their own friends. If your loved one needs continual care during treatment, try to find someone to relieve you for a few hours while you engage in an activity that is enjoyable and just for you. Taking time away to care for your own needs can give you renewed strength as you support him on this treatment journey.

Health & Wellness’s Role in Treatment

If he has advanced prostate cancer, your loved one has likely been through some form of treatment and may be starting his next treatment phase in an underweight state or with some nutritional deficits, and is perhaps physically weakened. You may understandably want him to rest a great deal and only eat what he seems able to tolerate in light of possible treatment side effects that can cause gastrointestinal upset, loss of appetite, fatigue and other unpleasant symptoms. However, the beneficial effects of proper nutrition and adequate exercise have been supported by numerous studies and advocated by medical groups like the American Cancer Society. Talk to his healthcare team together to devise a plan that helps him obtain adequate nutrition and at least some exercise, preferably a mixture of cardiovascular and stretching. Although there is not a strong biological rationale for concerns about adverse effects of exercise during treatment, research into this question is needed.

Be sure to take a look at the Resources page for additional information to support Health and Wellness during advanced prostate cancer treatment.