Conquering Prostate Cancer

Support for Prostate Cancer

No matter what kind of prostate cancer you have, you need to assemble a team of family members and friends who can provide emotional support. That team can include a trusted urologist or oncologist who can answer your questions and guide you toward a plan that’s right for your particular case. Always bring someone from your team to every medical appointment you have.

“The first time men hear they have cancer, they don’t hear a lot more after that,” says Dr. Richard D. Williams, professor and head of the Department of Urology at the University of Iowa. “In fact, I rarely tell a man that information without a family member or someone else there, because he won’t remember a good share of what I say.”

Your family and friends will serve as a sounding board, secretary and shoulder during this time. Lean on them in any way you need to. They might even offer good help when it comes to taking care of yourself—dietary changes may improve your chances of survival.

“There’s circumstantial evidence that suggests that a high-fat diet leads to prostate cancer, and may even increase the growth rate once you have it,” says Dr. Williams. Get plenty of veggies in your diet. Soy products and licopenes found in processed tomato products may offer some protection. And several studies have found evidence that broccoli, cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables that may protect against many cancers, including prostate cancer.