Show your support to a friend or loved one going through prostate cancer
Main image courtesy of Unsplash.
No one ever wants to hear the words from their doctor indicating that they have cancer. The second most common form of cancer in men (especially those over the age of 65) is prostate cancer. While rare in men under 40, this type of cancer is typically diagnosed around age 66, meaning that there is a greater likelihood that your loved one is around this stage of their life. Cancer is difficult to endure at any age, but when you’re older, it may take a greater toll on both the physical and mental health of the men going through it.
While you can’t magically wish the cancer away from your friend or loved one, you can be there to show your support during this difficult time. But how can you let them know you’ve got their back and you’re ready to help in any way that they might need?
We have some amazing ways you can show your support to someone with prostate cancer including:
- Practical items that can make their lives easier
- Ways to help them feel seen and supported emotionally
Supporting someone with prostate cancer with practical items
There are all kinds of ways you can help your loved one through this journey
If someone in your life iss going through prostate cancer, it can be hard to figure out exactly what you’re supposed to do. Depending on the patient’s relationship to you, you’ll want to find ways that you can show your support, whether that’s helping them with rides to the doctor, taking them out to lunch, or just coming over to do a puzzle. We have a few suggestions to get you started, and as your loved one’s journey continues, you’re sure to find new ways you can offer your time and energy to them.
Support the person in your life who is dealing with prostate cancer in a few practical ways. Image courtesy of Unsplash.
Offer to help out
One of the most practical ways you can help out your friend or family member is to offer tangible support. Most men pride themselves on taking care of their home, and like to ensure home projects and home chores are done in a timely manner. If they’re dealing with prostate cancer, this can make even regular home maintenance difficult.
Whether they’re fatigued from treatment or medication, they may have a list of things that need to get done, but they just haven’t had the time or energy to complete. This is where you can really help them out. Offer to get certain things done, such as weekly cleanings of their space, mowing the lawn and trimming hedges, taking their car for service, watching their pets, or arranging for professionals to come and complete larger tasks. It’s hard to not be able to care for where you live, which can be frustrating to your loved one. They want to keep their space looking good like they always have, and this one way you can show your support.
Additionally, you could also arrange to help out with weekly shopping trips, getting items delivered, or even picking up prescriptions from the pharmacy.
Offer to accompany them to any doctor’s appointments they might have so you can be there to ask questions and take notes as well. Sometimes it’s hard to remember everything your doctor may have said, but with a friend at the appointment too, your loved one will feel more relaxed knowing they don’t have to do everything.
Meal train
Another extremely helpful way to assist someone going through a prostate cancer diagnosis is with a meal train. These are organized on sites like Give InKind that make it easy for a community of people to show their support to someone going through a difficult time. You can easily create a page and share with loved ones via text, email, or even on their social media platforms. Once there is a good group of people, the members will then decide on a day that they would like to bring over a healthy, home cooked (or store bought) meal.
When someone is dealing with cancer, it may be hard for them to get the vitamins and minerals their body needs because they just don’t feel like going grocery shopping, let alone cooking. Meal trains can take that task off their plate. It’s easy to see who is bringing what on what day, that way there aren’t any repeats or you end up with too many people who deliver something on the same day.
Meal trains can go on for a few weeks, or as long as you think the recipient needs it. In addition to bringing over yummy meals for them to enjoy, you can also send over gift cards. Grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, or meal delivery services are great gift card ideas.
Recommend a support group
Knowing that there are other people dealing with prostate cancer can be a big help. Image courtesy of Unsplash.
There are support groups for lots of illnesses, including prostate cancer. The truth is we don’t understand exactly because we’re not the ones dealing with the diagnosis. However, by joining a support group for those men dealing with prostate cancer, they may find some solace hearing other people’s stories and experiences.
In a group setting, they will be encouraged to listen and only share if they’re comfortable. They may meet new people who they can develop friendships with as they’re going through the treatment of their cancer. Making the effort to find a community where they can speak, learn, and feel all that they’re feeling is a positive way to tackle this disease.
Books or positive sayings
One practical item that a lot of people turn to when they’re dealing with an illness are inspirational or informational books. When fighting an illness, we want to stay informed. What better way to do that than from experts or others who have gone through the process before? If you want to make sure your loved one is getting the right information that they need for a prostate cancer diagnosis, consider picking up some books that could help them along the way.
- Prostate Cancer Survivorship, by Sanchia S. Goonewardene, Raj Persa
- Prostate Cancer: Armed and Ready, Don Kaltenbach
- Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer, by Patrick Walsh, MD
In addition to these informative books, you might want to consider getting them a book that uplifts their spirit. This could be something that include spositive affirmations, or speaks to their specific religion. Positive sayings or nice quotes that can help them feel better about themselves are also a good item to get. Whether it’s a wall hanging you can put up where they’ll see it often, or something they can put on a shelf or nightstand. Seeing those positive words and knowing they came from a loved one can make a bad day, just a little bit better.
Comforting items
There are comfort-boosting gifts you can find for your loved ones to make their day better. They may be small things, but when they are given from the heart, they mean all the more. Consider picking up a few items for your friend or family member:
- Socks or slippers
- A neck pillow
- A robe
- Comfortable lounge clothing
- Unscented lotion
- Water bottle
- Weighted blanket
- Journal
- Earphones
- Herbal tea and a mug
If you want to get a few of these items, why not turn it into a care package? Include some of their favorite snacks like chips, popcorn, or candy, as well as some healthy fruit as well. Tea and coffee are always welcomed in care packages too.
How to help those with prostate cancer emotionally
You can also show your support by helping your loved one emotionally
Your time and presence can be very important to your loved one with prostate cancer. Make sure you’re reaching out to them and arranging to spend time with them when you can! Image courtesy of Unsplash.
Although there are plenty of practical ways to show your support for a cancer patient, there are also less tangible ways you can be there through this difficult time. If you’re at a loss on where to start or what to say, we understand. When you’re just starting out, it can feel a little overwhelming. Both for the person with cancer and those taking care of them. Here are a few ways you can try and help emotionally when it comes to supporting your loved one with prostate cancer.
Give them your time
This is one of the best ways you can let them know you want to be part of this journey. Spending time together is a great way to show them you want to keep them in your life, no matter what comes their way. Getting a cancer diagnosis can be very scary, and they may not know where exactly to turn to next. Showing up and offering to take them to appointments or organize their medications shows you’re there for them.
Giving your time doesn’t mean you have to always talk to them about cancer, or how their treatments are going. Talk to them about something else, or ask them what they’d like to talk about. If they are a sports fan, consider asking about their favorite team. Better yet, sit and watch a game with them. If they had a hobby or were working on a craft, you can also ask them how that’s progressing. The key here is to make yourself available by reaching out to them.
They may be feeling pretty lonely at this point and don’t know how to fix it. You can make a world of difference by being the one that contacts them and spends time with them.
Listen
All too often we want to bring our own opinions or recommendations into the conversation. Especially if it’s in regards to something we really want to help with. When it comes to cancer, you don’t know how the other person feels exactly. So you don’t need to offer suggestions on what they should do. Instead focus on listening to them, without judgment and without interrupting when they want to talk about things. Encourage them and let them know you’re there to listen, but don’t force them to talk about it.
Some people feel more comfortable keeping some things private. But with time they may choose to open up to you later. This could really help them out emotionally.
Stay in communication
Staying in touch is an essential part of helping out someone with prostate cancer. We all have busy schedules. Making sure you stay in contact with your loved one can really make them feel like they’re important. It doesn’t have to be long or drawn out, and you don’t have to send them something every day. Just make sure you’re checking in with:
- Emails
- Quick 5 minute calls
- Texts (including sending funny memes or videos)
- Cards
Knowing you’re thinking about them goes a long way. When you’re in contact, you can schedule a time to visit or do something together.
There are all kinds of ways to help someone you love with prostate cancer. Make sure you consider doing some of the things on this list today.
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