You’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer: Your stay-calm guide to what’s next

Let’s get right to the good news first: Men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer have a lot to be hopeful about. The overall five-year survival rate is 97%, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). “The leading cause of death among most men with prostate cancer is not prostate cancer,” says urologist Stacy Loeb, M.D.

Give yourself time to take in the news and focus on your mission to get better. There are many things you can do to help make that happen. Here’s how to get started.

Step 1: Remind yourself you’re not alone

About 288,000 men in the United States will get a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2023, according to the ACS. If you’re one of them, you might feel the urge to jump into treatment right away. But prostate cancer is usually slow growing. So, unless it’s been found at a late stage, there’s probably time to assess next steps.

“It’s important to address, of course,” says Dr. Loeb. “But it’s not an immediate emergency.” Talk about your treatment options with your doctor. You’ll likely have time to think about them and make a decision that you feel good about.

Step 2: Take your emotional temperature

Are you feeling anxious? Are you worried about how your prostate cancer treatment might affect your sex life or your relationship with your partner? It’s normal to feel uncertain about what’s to come. But taking steps to ease your stress can help you in the long run.

One example: It may help you make better treatment decisions. University of Buffalo researchers found that patients with a prostate cancer diagnosis who have stress are more likely to choose surgery. And surgery may not always be the right option for you.

For those reasons, it’s important to pay attention to your feelings. And if you’re feeling down, ask for help. “There are counselors who specialize in depression during and after treatment,” says Dr. Loeb. “And there are also many specialists who help manage side effects.”

Ask your doctor or nurse about resources. You can look online too. Some good places to start:

• Prostate Cancer Foundation
• African American Wellness Project
• Zero’s Us TOO International. This foundation runs more than 200 peer-led support groups around the country.

“Even if you’re not ready to speak, just go to a meeting and listen,” says Dr. Loeb. If you’re not comfortable telling your story, simply listening to other people sharing theirs can be good. “The one thing I don’t recommend is sitting home and not seeking any help at all if you’re having a hard time,” says Dr. Loeb.

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Step 3: Do your homework

It’s true what they say: Knowledge is power. And you’ll feel more empowered and motivated as a patient if you have a basic understanding of prostate cancer and your diagnosis.

Arm yourself with information about your unique type of prostate cancer. Learn everything you can about possible treatments and side effects. Make sure you have all the important numbers at your fingertips. A few numbers to ask the doctor about include your:

• Stage of cancer. Stage is a measure of the location and size of your cancer, and how far it has spread.
• Gleason score. This score ranges from 6 to 10, with 10 being the highest grade. Your number gives you a sense of how quickly your normal cells change to cancer cells. A high grade means the cells are very mutated and hardly look or act at all like normal cells.
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) results. PSA is a protein produced by prostate cells. In general, the higher your PSA number or the more it goes up over time, the more likely prostate cancer is present. Experts don’t yet agree on what numbers are considered normal or high. Talk to your doctor about what your results mean for you.

Trusted sources such as the American Cancer Society, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation are good online options. And if you have questions about what you’re learning, always discuss them with your doctor.

Step 4: Get a second opinion

It’s a good idea to seek advice from more than one doctor. That’s especially true if you’re concerned that you haven’t explored all your options. Or if you and your doctor don’t seem to be communicating well.

“It’s important to get an opinion from different types of specialists,” adds Dr. Loeb. In addition to a urologist, she recommends seeing a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist. You can often find experts with these specialties under one roof at an academic medical center or a private practice. That means you might be able to get multiple medical opinions on the same day.

You can also ask your first doctor for suggestions. “‘Are there any other types of doctors I should speak to?’ is a useful question,” says Dr. Loeb.

Step 5: Make exercise a priority

Staying physically activity during cancer treatment can improve your quality of life, according to the American Cancer Society.

“The fitter you are, the better you’ll get through your treatments,” Dr. Loeb says. “Exercise is especially important if you’re on hormone therapy, which can decrease your muscle mass and increase your fat mass. Plus, it increases your energy and helps to mitigate other side effects.”

You don’t have to run a marathon: One study showed that walking at an easy pace for just three hours a week was enough to reduce the side effects of prostate cancer treatments.

Step 6: Eat healthy

Good nutrition can help you stay stronger during your treatments. A good rule of thumb: Eat less red meat and more vegetables. “There’s no specific diet cure,” Dr. Loeb says. “But eating well can help you feel better — and help increase your longevity in general.”

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.