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Psychological problems resulting from prostate cancer

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User
Posted 04 Oct 2019 at 10:59

I elected to have radiation treatment and all seemed to go well  thanks to friendly hospital staff and a supportive partner. After 6 months however I suffered a severe nervous breakdown, from which after 12 months of hell i seem to be gradually recovering. Having talked to some other men i find that it is not uncommon to experience psychological problems, particularly with reference to sexual problems caused by the hormone injections that usually accompany radiation treatment. Has anyone any advice for me? I live in a rural area with no prostate support groups nearby. Doctor gave anti depressants but which seem largely ineffective. 

 

 

 

User
Posted 04 Oct 2019 at 18:41
I think a starting point would be to call the specialist nurses at PCUK using the number at the top of this web page. Also find out whether there is a Macmillan or Maggie's service in your area or some similar support from your nearest hospice; these organisations may have telephone support as well as face to face counselling.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 05 Oct 2019 at 11:34
Great response
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

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User
Posted 04 Oct 2019 at 18:41
I think a starting point would be to call the specialist nurses at PCUK using the number at the top of this web page. Also find out whether there is a Macmillan or Maggie's service in your area or some similar support from your nearest hospice; these organisations may have telephone support as well as face to face counselling.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 04 Oct 2019 at 18:48

I did receive some counselling via Macmillan which was helpful but only lasted 6 weeks. Maybe I was particularly vulnerable, having been under a period of prolonged stress ( divorce) but I felt I could have been warned of psychological impact of treat.ent.

User
Posted 05 Oct 2019 at 11:34
Great response
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 12 Oct 2019 at 20:13

Hi Chris, sorry to hear about your experience.

Like you I have had RT and am now on continuing HT. Post-RT it's been difficult with the emotional side of things - at times I have felt that I'm at the bottom of a very deep, very dark hole. 

Separating out cause and effect ain't easy - is it the PCa?, the fatigue of having RT?, the stuff that goes with HT?, or re-assessing my life with the knowledge of reduced life expectancy? I still haven't worked this out (apart from knowing I hate the side-effects of HT)

I live a fairly socially isolated life and some of the things that have worked for me also help in this regard. I have been on an "Active Beyond Cancer" course (health advice and exercise) and this has led into an blokes-get-fit weekly meetup. Also a Tai chi course and a mindfulness course. I really value both the exercise and the mindfulness (I am amazed by that!) The Tai chi got a bit weird for me: but some things work and others don't.

My pathways into this have been leaflets at hospital, Macmillan centre visit, local PCa support group, council leisure / activity programme.

I have also accessed Macmillan counselling - I needed much more than the initial six weeks and I'll be ever grateful to Macmillan and my counsellor - it really helped. Maybe, if you feel it works for you, you could go back and ask for more? Also, I would echo Lyn's comment re Maggie's and so on.

Best wishes to you.

Steve

User
Posted 08 Nov 2019 at 17:02

I went the surgery route but what caught my eye is that 6 months after surgery I also had quite a dip in mood that hasn't cleared itself yet. Fatigue, aches and pains, gastro symptoms...you name it! But the low mood is the worst thing. I can only attribute it to some kind of PTSD as my diagnosis to surgery was very quick and I don't think I even processed it happening! Now, months later, it seems I am!

Not easy of course as being men, we are less likely to reach out and I have not been in touch with McMillan or any other charity...not sure why! GP not much help but I am trying hard each day to improve and am finding it much of a rollercoaster. 

But, again, I was not on hormone treatment so different...but the parallels of timescales is interesting!

All the best,

Mark

User
Posted 08 Nov 2019 at 19:59

It is, as you say, difficult to separate out all the different things that affect a person after multiple stressful events. I believe  that there is a lot of grief over the loss of the life that was before and an acceptance that things will be different in many ways and once one has gone through all those stages of grief one can come to a new way of viewing life. Mindfulness does help and sharing one's feelings with someone you trust. The most important thing is to value every day and focus on the positive things.

 

 
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