Living And Loving With Prostate Cancer
Content Provided By Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education And Support Network
Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network (ARA) - A man is supposed to be physically healthy and emotionally strong. So where does he turn to when a disease such as prostate cancer comes along, which threatens this? An international call to action has been launched which draws attention to the impact that prostate cancer has on a man's love life, and calls for much better information to help couples through this difficult time.
More than 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. "It is reaching epidemic proportions and is possibly one of the biggest challenges to men's health in the world today," says Tom Kirk of Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network.
The international call to action asks men and their families to confront the disease and assemble the best team of doctors and researchers around them for advice on treatment options, and draw strength from the loving support of their family to help them manage the impact the disease can have on how they feel emotionally.
Marriage and family therapists, Douglas and Sandy Jardine have firsthand experience living with prostate cancer, following Douglas' diagnosis in 2006. "We knew that after his surgery for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction would be inevitable at least for a few months" says Sandy. "We planned a romantic weekend away just before surgery day. We joked about having sex all weekend, but it was bittersweet and somewhat sad."
"As a couple, we needed to know much earlier, and before the surgery, about the near certainty of some level of permanent sexual dysfunction after removal of the cancer. We needed clearer and more realistic predictions of how long it could take before things improved. Our hope is that health professionals will increasingly provide this education before surgery. This will empower the man and his partner, and could be of help in keeping the partners connected," she says.
Prostate cancer survivor Jim Kiefert was diagnosed with prostate cancer 20 years ago at age 50. Kiefert, who is chairman of the board of directors of Us TOO International, was told that he had between one and three years to live. "I was told that I had failed the treatments and there was no known cure," Kiefert says. "I felt very depressed. But my wife Maureen and I learned everything we could about prostate cancer and made changes in our diet and exercise, and practiced stress reduction. We've been real fighters."
Although prostate cancer strikes only men, it can have a profound impact on the man, the couple and the family. "Keep talking to each other, reach out to family and friends, and learn all that you can about the disease. Join a prostate cancer support group, and put your relationship first. Listen to your partner's feelings, and be a safe haven for each other," says Sandy.
For additional information visit Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network at www.ustoo.org or ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer at www.zerocancer.org.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
More than 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. "It is reaching epidemic proportions and is possibly one of the biggest challenges to men's health in the world today," says Tom Kirk of Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network.
The international call to action asks men and their families to confront the disease and assemble the best team of doctors and researchers around them for advice on treatment options, and draw strength from the loving support of their family to help them manage the impact the disease can have on how they feel emotionally.
Marriage and family therapists, Douglas and Sandy Jardine have firsthand experience living with prostate cancer, following Douglas' diagnosis in 2006. "We knew that after his surgery for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction would be inevitable at least for a few months" says Sandy. "We planned a romantic weekend away just before surgery day. We joked about having sex all weekend, but it was bittersweet and somewhat sad."
"As a couple, we needed to know much earlier, and before the surgery, about the near certainty of some level of permanent sexual dysfunction after removal of the cancer. We needed clearer and more realistic predictions of how long it could take before things improved. Our hope is that health professionals will increasingly provide this education before surgery. This will empower the man and his partner, and could be of help in keeping the partners connected," she says.
Prostate cancer survivor Jim Kiefert was diagnosed with prostate cancer 20 years ago at age 50. Kiefert, who is chairman of the board of directors of Us TOO International, was told that he had between one and three years to live. "I was told that I had failed the treatments and there was no known cure," Kiefert says. "I felt very depressed. But my wife Maureen and I learned everything we could about prostate cancer and made changes in our diet and exercise, and practiced stress reduction. We've been real fighters."
Although prostate cancer strikes only men, it can have a profound impact on the man, the couple and the family. "Keep talking to each other, reach out to family and friends, and learn all that you can about the disease. Join a prostate cancer support group, and put your relationship first. Listen to your partner's feelings, and be a safe haven for each other," says Sandy.
For additional information visit Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network at www.ustoo.org or ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer at www.zerocancer.org.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
A man is charged with assisting with an attempted suicide after telling his wife to kill herself during an argument and loading the gun for her, deputies say.
A 27-year-old man remains under observation in a special cell today after being charged in the death of his ex-girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter last week.
Ida is no longer a hurricane as it loses strength over the water on its way to a landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast sometime tomorrow.
Three men have been arrested by Daytona Beach police after a 16-year-old died from stab wounds.
A pedestrian was struck and killed after walking into the path of a vehicle while leaving a Central Florida bar, authorities say.
Local 6 News, led by investigative reporter Mike Holfeld, will host an interactive experience on Monday, including a phone bank and online chat with homeowners association experts. Call 888-436-6665 for the phone bank.
A fight breaks out among players at a high school game in Providence, R.I., that soon spread to fans in the stands.
A Minnesota woman gives birth on-line for her family, friends and the whole world to see.
Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.
Students in Geneva make "green" Christmas ornaments.
The 13 people killed when an Army psychiatrist allegedly opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, included a pregnant woman who was preparing to return home, a man who quit a furniture company job to join the military about a year ago, a newlywed who had served in Iraq and a woman who had vowed to take on Osama bin Laden after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Here is a look at some of the victims.
Top-dollar designs don't always provide a good return for the rich and famous. Check out which celebs were caught in fashion flops.
Hundreds of photos in the Casey Anthony case are released.
Check out these lookers who ran into the law.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
