It's very common for individuals recently diagnosed with an illness to feel a degree of isolation. A feeling that manifests itself in self-talk populated with statements like, “why me?” and “no one understands what I'm going through.” Prostate cancer is much the same. The first few days (weeks) are indeed lonely as we question how we're going to make the decisions that need to be made.
I was lucky to have knowledgeable friends who directed me to available support groups and websites where I could hear from other men...I was even more pleased when men began coming forward to tell me their stories and, perhaps more importantly, listen to mine.
Now, men are contacting me daily to tell their stories of colon cancer, testicular cancer, and more. It's as if, once we discover someone has endured an illness we feel a certain sense of security in sharing our own journey. And that sharing seems easier if both parties have experienced a below the waist illness.
Talks quickly turn to stories about being shaved, the catheter, how surprisingly easy it was to display our traumatized, irradiated, and/or bruised nether region to young (and old) nurses, post treatment embarrassing moments and victories.
Ultimately, men are fairly uncomplicated lifeforms...lifeforms that still find farts funny and worry about regaining control of things that haven't been out of control since we were infants.
Brothers below the waist unite...you are not alone, we stand ready to listen and provide whatever we have to offer. We need a secret sign (yeah, guys still like secret signs too) to identify us to one another and facilitate more communication...I'm open to suggestions.
When I lived in Utah some of the guys in my office who had gotten a vasectomy had custom tie tacks made that was a little pair of scissors cutting a tiny tube. You could do something like that except for those of us who no longer wear ties. (Maybe an earring for us).
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