If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you probably have a lot of questions about what kind of treatment to get and what to expect during and after treatment has ended. Here’s what you need to know about lifestyle changes with prostate cancer.
Traditional Treatment Options
There are many traditional treatment options for prostate cancer, to include surgery, cryosurgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Treatment will depend on many factors, such as your age, your overall health and the stage of cancer. For many of these treatments, side effects can be quite harsh and take a toll on the body. Side effects can include sterility, impotence, incontinence and diarrhea, hair loss, loss of appetite, exhaustion and more.
CyberKnife – A New and Treatment
For those who are facing a diagnosis of prostate cancer, there is a treatment option with minimal side effects that is not only highly effective, but accessible. Unlike traditional treatment options such as chemotherapy or other types of radiation, CyberKnife is an innovative non-invasive radiation technology that destroy tumors and lesions throughout the body with pinpoint accuracy, leaving surrounding healthy tissue unaffected. With CyberKnife there is no incision, scarring, blood, anesthesia or pain. Side effects are minimal, if any and most patients report they can undergo treatment and head back to work or school without missing a beat.
Lifestyle Changes
Whether you choose the non-invasive CyberKnife “Beam of LifeTM” or more traditional treatment options, you will still want to do everything you can to stay healthy and keep your cancer from returning. Making even the simplest of changes can help you live a happier and healthier life. Some of those changes include:
Maintaining a Healthy Weight. Research has shown that men who are overweight when diagnosed with prostate cancer have a more bleak health outlook. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight is one step in a positive direction towards overall health. You can do this by making changes to your diet and increasing physical activity, getting enough rest and reducing stress.
Changes to your Diet. Making positive changes to your diet, such as eating more fruits, veggies, and lean protein can help you regain much of your strength after treatment. This may be difficult during and immediately after treatment, since most traditional cancer treatments can leave you feeling nauseous and can affect your sense of taste. Eating the right foods can help prevent the chance of a recurrence of your cancer as well as reduce your risk of getting other diseases such as high blood pressure or heart problems.
Increase in Physical Activity. Studies have shown that physical activity during and after treatment can have tremendous benefits to your overall health, including increased muscular strength, improved heart health, reduced fatigue, improved energy levels, and lowered depression and anxiety levels.
Quitting Smoking. Research suggests that men who smoke are more likely to see their prostate cancer return. Quitting smoking can help lower these risks, as well as have an enormous benefit on your overall health.
Staying in Touch with Your Doctor. It is very important to maintain regular contact with your doctor and to be aware of any signs of recurrence. Your doctor can also help you manage any long-term side effects from your treatment.
Getting Emotional Support. It is normal for someone with prostate cancer to have feelings of anxiety, depression, and worry. This is why it is vital to get emotional support you can count on, such as therapy, support groups, religious groups, or friends and family.
The “Beam of LifeTM,” Now Available Here in Miami
A diagnosis of any type of cancer can leave one feeling scared and lost. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with prostate or any other cancer, consider CyberKnife. CyberKnife is highly effective, safe, painless and does not damage surrounding tissue. With regard to prostate cancer, one can expect approximately five treatment sessions, vs. up to 45 with traditional radiation treatments. Plus CyberKnife has little to no impact on sexual function.
Before you seek out more long-term, invasive treatments for your prostate cancer, speak to our experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, about our state-of-the art robotic stereotactic radio-surgery system. To schedule a consult or appointment, call (800) 204-0455 or contact us online and visit our website www.prostatecancertreatmentmiami.com