Mind-Body Medicine for Prostate Cancer

Dr. Katherine Puckett: Some of the side effects that patients going though treatment for prostate cancer may face include changes in sexual functioning and urinary continence. This in turn most likely affects both their self-image and their relationships with others they may be close to. So these are things that we can help them with in a counseling relationship, we can help them adjust to body image and work through relationship issues. Sometimes just with the patient, but sometimes with the patient and their loved one so that we can help them work together as a couple to deal with those issues.

Patients going through treatment for prostate cancer may experience urinary incontinence and they can certainly get help from their physicians with the physical-medical aspects of that, but mind-body therapists can help them deal with the emotional results of that, and help them find ways to cope with the stress of that and to be more comfortable with themselves and as they go through their days.

Patients with prostate cancer whose sexual functioning has been affected may need help in finding alternate ways to express themselves in an intimate relationship, and we can give them very specific ideas about alternate ways to be close with a loved one. We can talk about very specific techniques and also their physicians can help them with the physical aspect of that, but we’re dealing more with the emotional relationship piece of it. Also, we have a men’s support group at the hospital. So, if people are comfortable talking with other men about that, that might be a good environment in which they feel safe to do that.