Coping with prostate cancer is not something that you or your loved one have to do on your own.
Your first inclination may be to turn to friends, family, religious leaders, or members of your religious congregation. They are often a great source of support. But you may want to talk with someone who has more personal experience with prostate cancer.
How to find those who’ve “been there”
Us TOO
A great place to start is by calling a prostate cancer-specific support group, like Us TOO, to see if they have any upcoming meetings in your area.
You can also call the organization’s toll free number, which is 800-808-7866.
Us TOO is a grassroots organization that was started by prostate cancer survivors to serve men with prostate cancer, their spouses/partners, and families.
Their meetings are usually open to both men and their spouses/partners and family members. They often meet at hospitals that have prostate cancer treatment centers.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society also has a prostate cancer support group called Man to Man. Some Man to Man groups are also open to wives and partners.
In some areas of the country, wives and partners may meet separately in a group setting called Side by Side.
You can learn more by calling the organization toll free at 800-ACS-2345.
New Prostate Cancer InfoLink
In addition to providing excellent news articles about prostate cancer, you can access an online forum specifically for wives and partners at the the New Prostate Cancer InfoLink.
There are also many other active forums that address a variety of issues related to prostate cancer on this social network web site.
For Ladies Only Network
You may also want to visit the online forum, For Ladies Only, which is exclusively for wives, partners, and family members. It’s a very active forum and the women are extremely supportive. You must become a member to view and enter posts.
Hospital groups
There also may be prostate cancer group meetings at your local hospital.
You can ask your loved one’s doctor or call them directly.
Voices on HisProstateCancer
We encourage you to visit the “Stories of Hope” section of our web site to read personal stories submitted by men with prostate cancer and their wives and partners.
Support for men
Two online faith-based forums that are primarily for men include a:
Malecare.com is another resource that offers information and a list of meetings for male partners.
Seeking professional help
If you or your loved one are having difficulty coping, you may want to consider talking to a:
- Social worker
- Psychologist
- Psychiatrist
You can ask your loved one’s doctor for a referral.