Resources

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I will continue to add valuable resources here as I find them. Let me know if you're looking for something specific and I will do my best to find it and post it here.

Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers is a must-read for anyone diagnosed with prostate cancer.  Written by Dr. Mark Scholz and Ralph H. Blum. It serves as an essential guide for men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their families, aiming to help them navigate the complexities of the disease and make informed decisions about treatment. It helped me choose my treatment.

The book challenges the prevailing tendency in the medical industry to rush men into aggressive treatments like radical prostatectomy, which often have debilitating side effects such as impotence and incontinence, without significantly prolonging life for many. Instead, it advocates for active surveillance (close monitoring) as the initial and often preferred approach for men with low- and some intermediate-risk prostate cancers.

Impact of Prostate Cancer Treatment on Quality of Life of LGBTQ+ Patients: The gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer + (LGBTQ+) community is underserved, and their needs are often misunderstood and/or overlooked. We aimed to analyze the current literature regarding prostate cancer's (PCa) impact on the quality of life (QoL) of LGBTQ+ patients with a focus on sexuality, identity, and psychosocial support. 

The Effects of Radical Prostatectomy on Gay and Bisexual Men's Mental Health, Sexual Identity and Relationships: The effect of prostate cancer treatment in gay and bisexual men is an under-researched area. In 2015, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) conducted in-depth telephone interviews with 19 gay and bisexual men who had undergone radical prostatectomies. Across the respondents’ five emotional themes emerged: (1) shock at the diagnosis, (2) a reactive, self-reported “depression”, (3) sex-specific situational anxiety, (4) a sense of grief, and, (5) an enduring loss of sexual confidence.

Prostate cancer treatment can cause physical side effects, but it may also affect your mental health and emotional wellbeing with low mood, mood swings, changes in memory and concentration, or anxiety or depression. These symptoms can be mild or more challenging.  

Some treatments such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy can have a direct effect on your ability to think clearly, remember things, learn new information and feel good about yourself. While treatments that cause changes to your bladder, bowel, sexual function, bone health or energy levels may also affect how you feel emotionally.