Prostrate cancer

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I have found out they didnt get all cancer cells when i had a prostectomy i also had sepsis when they operated i have found it harder this time i am having hormone treatment and i am more tired and emotional this time round i am waiting for radiotherapy is it normal to feel sick on hormone tablets i have alot of health conditions since sepsis diabetes high blood pressure and cholesterol i have no appetite i just wondered if all these fellings are normal thanks in advance

  • Hi Teddy bear,

     

    Thank you for getting in touch with us and welcome to our online community.  I hope you find it a welcoming and supportive place.

    My name is Adrienne and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists at Macmillan.

     

    I’m so sorry to hear how poorly you’ve been feeling with the hormone therapy, whilst waiting for radiotherapy.  It sounds as though you’ve had a really tough time.

    Unfortunately, the physical and emotional symptoms you mention can occur whilst on hormone therapy, and although they usually get better as the body gets used to the drug, some people find they can linger.  It’s important to let your hospital team or GP know about any side-effects you are having, so they can help manage things like nausea.  Your doctor or nurse will assess you and figure out the best way to manage it, such as treating an infection, managing constipation and/or prescribing anti-sickness medication (anti-emetics).  This is especially important when it’s affecting your appetite as we want you to be as strong as possible when having any kind of cancer treatment.  A good, balanced diet helps aid recovery and reduce side-effects that you may experience.  It may be helpful to look at our Building-Up Diet booklet, which gives hints and tips on how to get more energy and protein into your diet as well as some meal ideas and shopping list suggestions. 

     

    Sometimes there are emotional reasons for nausea.  You may be worried that they did not get all of the cancer cells during the prostatectomy, or you may feel overwhelmed at the thought of having to go through further treatment.  Or it could be a combination of both physical and emotional symptoms.  The hormone therapy itself can cause you to feel more emotional and down

     

    There is no right or wrong way to think or feel but there are things that might help you cope with your emotions.  You could ask your GP or cancer nurse for help and you can connect with people in our Online Community. The emotional support forum is a place to talk with others who understand what you are going through.  The nurses at Prostate Cancer UK run free online classes for people who are on hormone therapy to help support, answer questions and connect you with others who are going through the same thing.  You can find out more by clicking here.

     

    Feeling tired (fatigued) is also not unusual when taking hormone therapy.  Some people find their fatigue is very mild and it does not really affect their daily life. But for others, it is very disruptive.  If you are not eating the same amount of food as you would normally, this may also cause you to have less energy and feel tired.  If you have fatigue, you may become less active.  When your muscles are not being used regularly, they become weaker.  Physical activity can help reduce fatigue.  Being active may help to:

    • boost your appetite - this is when you feel you want to eat food
    • give you more energy
    • build up your muscle strength
    • improve sleep.

    Before you start doing any physical activity or increase the amount you do, it is important to get advice from a healthcare professional. They can advise you on the type and amount that is safe for you. Your cancer specialist or GP can also refer you to a physiotherapist. A physiotherapist can help you build up your physical fitness and muscle strength. Specialist cancer physiotherapists may be available in some areas.

    It may be helpful to keep a fatigue diary so you can show your healthcare team how you feel and how it is affecting your day-to-day life.  It can highlight any patterns, find out if anything makes it better or worse and allow you to plan important activities for when you have more energy.  We also have a Coping With Fatigue (tiredness) booklet that you can look at. 

     

    I hope this information is helpful Teddy bear but please do reach out to us if you need to ask any further questions.

     

    Take care and best wishes,

     

    Adrienne

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

     

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email

    Ref:  AMc/GG

  • Thankyou for that it has really helped