Follow-up Care
Fatigue
Lifestyle Changes After Having Prostate Cancer
Nutrition after Prostate Cancer
Food Safety Precautions for People with Prostate Cancer
Physical Activity after Prostate Cancer


Follow-up Care

Once you have completed treatment you will still need to be monitored closely by your doctor. It is natural to worry about the cancer coming back and to have anxiety about follow-up testing; however, it is important not to let this stop you from attending your regular appointments.

Your doctor should give you a follow-up plan that will include regular appointments and possibly additional exams, lab tests or imaging tests to give you the best chance at remaining cancer-free. It is also important to report any new symptoms, such as bone pain or problems with urination, to your healthcare team. With this approach, your doctor will be able to find out as early as possible if the cancer does come back.

Fatigue

Fatigue, or extreme tiredness, is common among people treated for cancer. For some, fatigue may last for a long time after treatment and can make it difficult to get back to “normal life”. Exercise can help reduce fatigue and a program tailored to your specific needs may help you feel better physically. Exercise has also been shown to reduce stress and improve mental health.

Lifestyle Changes After Having Prostate Cancer

For many, a serious health scare, such as prostate cancer, makes them focus on their health in ways they had not before. Now may be a good time to re-evaluate your lifestyle and make changes to your diet and/or introduce more or different kinds of physical activity.

Nutrition after Prostate Cancer

The side-effects of prostate cancer treatment can make maintaining good nutrition difficult. Treatment can make you nauseous, affect your sense of taste, reduce your interest in eating food, or result in weight gain that is hard to lose.

It is important to remember that most of these side effects will get better with time. Many people find eating smaller portions every two to three hours helps them feel better. It may also be helpful to seek the advice of a dietitian who can tailor a meal plan to your side-effects.

Making a few simple changes, like increasing the variety of healthy foods in your diet, can have longlasting benefits. Limiting alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight and diet may also lower your risk for secondary cancers as well as improving your overall health.

Food Safety Precautions for People with Prostate Cancer

Infection is a concern for people living with cancer, especially during times when the immune system is weak. Handling and storing food safely is an important precaution to reduce exposure to unsafe germs and bacteria.

Food safety tips:

• Wash hands before eating or preparing foods.
• Wash vegetables and fruits.
• Standard guidelines recommend keeping foods colder than 41°F and hotter than 140°F.
• Keep raw meats and meat juices away from other foods.

Physical Activity after Prostate Cancer

It is common for men to notice a decline in fitness level and muscle strength after treatment. Becoming active again or introducing a fitness routine is an important step to regaining your health. You should talk with your doctor or healthcare team to get their opinion on an exercise plan before starting.  Regular physical activity is shown to have a number of health benefits, including:

• Improving cardiovascular health.
• Reducing anxiety and depression.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Improving muscle strength.
• Reducing fatigue and improving energy levels.

Photos from top to bottom, G. Monteith ©, PhotoSensitive, D. Groot ©,  PhotoSensitive.