My name is Arun. After having trouble emptying my bladder completely and finding blood in my stool, I was diagnosed with stage 2 prostate cancer.
My grandfather died from cancer too. I’m currently on chemotherapy, and my biggest fear throughout this cancer journey is the side effects from it.
I was having trouble going to the washroom. Soon I was constipated for 4 days and then saw some blood in my stool. That's when I went to the doctor.
The diagnosis caught me by surprise and left me confused.
Since the diagnosis, I could no longer exercise as much.
The treatment plan recommended by my doctor included partial prostatectomy (removal of partial prostate gland) and chemotherapy. I opted for these two treatment options as recommended.
I have to say, I felt very anxious after deciding on this plan. Currently, I’m still undergoing chemotherapy. The chemo drug I’m on is Cabazitaxel (Jevtana).
I’ve suffered from nausea and vomiting on top of weight fluctuations because of the treatment. To cope, I self-medicated and improved my diet and nutrition.
Since starting treatment, I've been eating a healthier diet roughly 3 to 5 days of the week.
There’s also been changes in my relationships since being diagnosed with cancer. More notably, I’ve grown closer with my parents, calling and visiting them more often every week. I’m also spending more time with my kid, even though we don’t do yearly family trips anymore.
However, one aspect that’s been negatively impacted is my sexual relationship with my partner.
I really want to get fit and get back to my normal life as soon as possible. I want to get better and be done with these doctor appointments, tests and everything in the next two years. I dream of living a long life with my loved ones.
My biggest fear at the moment is the chemotherapy and what other side effects I could get. My family has helped me a lot by keeping me calm.
Some time has passed but my feelings about getting cancer remain the same – I’m still surprised and confused.
I hope all of you get over cancer and live a healthy and long life.
This patient's story is published and shared with their full consent. Any personal data that can be used to identify the patient has been omitted.
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