Caring for someone with prostate cancer can be long-term, making it essential for care partners to prioritize their own health and well-being. Dr. Andrew Hahn shares practical advice for maintaining healthy habits, relationships, and quality of life while supporting a loved one. Dr. Hahn also highlights resources that can help care partners and patients stay informed and connected.
Dr. Andrew Hahn is a Genitourinary Medical Oncologist and an Assistant Professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Learn more about Dr. Hahn.
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Transcript
Katherine Banwell:
Dr. Hahn, what advice do you have for care partners who want to stay involved and supportive, but they also want to maintain their own health and their relationships and quality of life? What do you say to them?
Dr. Andrew Hahn:
First, prostate cancer is hopefully a long journey for many of these men.
So, it’s really important that the care partner cares for themselves. If they can’t care for themselves appropriately, I don’t think they’re going to step up and be the support rock that they want to be for their partner. And I’ve watched that happen sometimes. It’s so sad when you see the patient and their loved one both struggling for different reasons. I think it makes it even harder for the patient who’s living with prostate cancer when their biggest concern is the health of a loved one.
I think taking care of yourself is the most important. This is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. So, they need to get appropriate sleep. They need to be exercising, eating well, continuing to nourish relationships that give them meaning. I think those are all very important aspects.
Katherine Banwell:
Are there resources or support organizations that can help?
Dr. Andrew Hahn:
Yeah. The one that I’d highlight here is the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Prostate Cancer Foundation is the major philanthropic organization for prostate cancer in the United States.
They have a lot of wonderful resources for patients. They have different web seminars for patients to learn about different aspects of their care. Because I’m sure as patients have seen watching this video, information can come fast from us as oncologists. Even when we’re trying, we can use terminology that’s not familiar. I think the Prostate Cancer Foundation does a wonderful job of ensuring that they have expert level data described in a way that’s accessible for patients. And then more resources for patients who are just living with this cancer.
Katherine Banwell:
Right. To be as informed as possible.
Dr. Andrew Hahn:
Absolutely.