Prostate Cancer Lifestyle

My experience

Prostate cancer: Bernard's journey

Prostate cancer survivor Bernard talks about the long journey through his disease. Ultimately, he says, having support and information is what can carry a sufferer through dark and uncertain times. 'Bernie' says he wants to talk openly about some of the oft-neglected aspects of prostate cancer – the aspects that men do not have to suffer alone.

For more information, see Prostate Cancer: Bernard's Journey.

General lifestyle

Nutrition and cancer

The nutritional needs of a cancer patient depend on the stage of the disease, symptoms experienced, type and frequency of the cancer treatment being used, side effects associated with that treatment and the effect of the specific cancer on food and nutrient ingestion, tolerance, and utilisation.

For more information, see Nutrition in Cancer Patients.

Vitamins, supplements and cancer

The main reason that cancer patients choose to take dietary supplements is to enhance their health and chance of a cure. Studies have shown that cancer survivors use supplements to try to strengthen their immune system, help them to feel better, and to cope with stress. Most cancer patients and survivors believe that there is a benefit in taking dietary supplements.

For more information, see Vitamins, Supplements and Cancer.

Sex and cancer

Between 10 and 88% of patients diagnosed with cancer experience sexual problems following diagnosis and treatment. This varies according to the location and type of cancer, and what kind of treatment is used.

For more information, see Sexual Difficulties Associated with Cancer in Men.

Travelling with cancer

Travelling with cancer is not without risks and difficulties, which you should be able to minimise with good planning. If you are too unwell to travel abroad, ask yourself if your family can travel to you instead of you to them, or if there is a suitable alternative destination within Australia.

For more information, see Travelling with Cancer.

More information

For more information on prostate cancer, including diagnoses, types of treatments, and some useful tools, videos and animations, see Prostate Cancer.