Day to day communication in a close group of people is fairly simple as we know each other and accordingly, we emphasize or de-emphasize certain aspects depending on the demand of the situation. But when it comes to sharing something bad which will have a deep life-changing impact on everybody involved requires a different level of communication skill, although no one would like to master this art but the unfortunate reality of like sometimes pushes you to that situation. The challenge to share gets more accentuated when it is related to health and that organ involved is prostrate.
Since the common perception surrounding prostate involves social stigma of privacy involving sex-related issues, people find it extremely challenging to share anything related to prostrate. It becomes more challenging if the health threat is serious in nature and likely chances of cure are minimal. It is a double burden situation of managing your own emotion as well as satiating the urge to inform all in plain and simple understandable language. Before you plan to tell about the status of your prostate to your near and dear ones, it is absolutely necessary to know about the issues in detail so that you could be in a better position to express you emption with facts.
Understand Prostrate and Issue
You love your near and dear ones and you want to keep them all out of the stress cycle involved in health-related issues. You are emotionally right in your choice, but you have to tell is somehow in the simplest possible language so that they could understand and plan accordingly. Here are some of the basics which could be of great help in building the tempo of communication as these micro facts will help you elaborate and win trust. Since you know the challenges and expected expressed and not so expressed reactions, it is advisable to put your case as transparently as you could so that you could feel relieved of the double burden challenge.
What is Prostate?
It is simply a small gland, located just below the bladder in front of the rectum, in men that helps create semen. The prostate wraps around the urinary tract brings the semen out of the body. With age, it normally grows in size but if it grows too large it invites some health issues.
- Some non Cancerous Issues:
Benign prostatic hyperplasia: It is very common in old age, meaning prostate enlarges but it is not cancerous. Depending on the acuteness of BPH, your physician well either recommend a watch or suggest microsurgery to help urine flow.
- Acute bacterial prostatitis: It is a normal bacterial infection and totally curable with simple medication. You may see symptoms like pain, fever, and chills along with prostate symptoms.
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis: It is also an infection but it comes back regularly. It might not be curable in the truest sense, but some antibiotic medications help you get some relief from pain.
- Chronic prostatitis: Commonly known aspelvic pain syndrome as it causes pain in the groin, lower back or at the tip of the penis. With the perfect combination of medicine surgery and some lifestyle changes could be of great help.
If you notice some of the symptoms like a sudden increase in the frequency of urination, blood in urine or semen, pain and burning sensation, painful ejaculation, pain in the lower part of the body then consult your doctor and go for some tests to find out the exact reason.
Prostate Cancer
Recent trends suggest an alarming rise in cases of prostate cancer globally. Reasons are unknown but some common factors are old age, family history, diet, and race. Your physician will conduct some manual as well as pathological tests to determine the status of the malign cell. If satisfied, he will recommend you to a urologist for further check-up and treatment. Depending on the diagnosis and spread, your oncologist will adopt suitable treatment which might be surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy along with medication.
Now you know about your prostate and its status in detail. You are well equipped with all possible information to face the challenge of communicating it with individuals of importance. Since the same message cannot be conveyed to all with the equal impact it is not advisable to have a common formula, but plan it according to the situational requirement. It is tough for you and it is going to be equally tough for everyone involved, so be calm and composed in dealing with emotional overflow. Let us now see how to tell about prostrate status to a different set of people;
- Telling To Near & Dear
The best strategy to share shock is to do it face-to-face. It helps in building the desired emotional chord, which helps in understanding the situation. Since the prostate is a little complex issue, you have to deal it meticulously. If everyone is not in proximity, you can use video call facility to give it a personal touch. For better and total communication, write a short script with pointers so that you could move from point to point. Take a little pause to give room for questioning. Start in the tone of acceptance with confidence to fight and move accordingly. It is natural to have a flow of emotion, no need to control it let it flow it will have great reliving value. When it comes to a spouse, you have to be very open about it especially when it is maligned cell. For rest of all, it could be a formal announcement with a request to keep it personal.
- Telling Sons & Daughter
The toughest part of the game, because as a parent you wanted to be with them forever protecting and giving whatever they require. That sense of non-fulfillment makes it really tough to face your kids and adults. However, the remedy is in transparency because it is good for them to know in advance so that they could emotionally prepare themselves. Your communication should be the focus on establishing trust with motivating them to face challenges in real terms. Any effort to hide it for long could backfire as they understand the sensitivities and start drawing their own conclusions. So don’t allow this self conclusion process to begin especially when it is bout prostate. Explain in detail about the problem and treatment. You can hold some of the crucial information as the situation demands.
Read this article from Cancer.org talking about how to tell your kids about cancer.
- Telling Friends and All
Well, you know about your friends and acquaintances better than anyone else. So, it is up to you how you want to share the information. Frankly, in most of the situation overdoes of sympathy makes your week. So be with them and let the episode unfold as it moves. But, it is all about emotion and it is hard to resist the temptation to share information. You don’t want to be called liar in those crucial days of life. Use an effective balancing act in sharing information with proper request to maintain privacy as this could affect family life. Friends are the best judge of the situation if you have some let them know as they will stand by you till the last fresh breath of air in your nostrils.
- Telling Professional
Another tough call as after family you spend maximum time of your life with your colleagues. Emotions apart, take a fair call as your hyper-emotional approach could land you in additional trouble. Your employer could find one of the several reasons to show you pink-slip making it difficult for you to support self and family. It all depends on your past experience dealing with such a situation; if you see red flags from the other end it is better to consult your lawyer before making your ailment public. It is your right to protect self and family interest and take your call accordingly.
- Telling Known Unknowns
In this digital space, we all are connected in one way or the other. If you are secure enough, there is nothing wrong in letting them know about your health status. Use perfect communication in messaging so that you could avoid unnecessary questioning causing emotional load. It is advisable to post any such message in private space only so that only people you know could know and understand your situation.
Communicating prostate-related issue with people you know is a challenging task and you should definitely handle it with utmost care. As highlighted, prior to making it public you must be ready with all possible information and facts, as this will help you build healthy communication. However, the fact of science-driven modern life is that there is hope till the end. So when you notice symptoms of prostate-related ailments, don’t hesitate and don’t wait and just consult your doctor. He will guide you about the next best step and how to proceed. Based on his inputs you can plan your communication strategy and accordingly let your near and dear ones about the ailment and possible remedies available in short and long term. One thing that is most important is your will to fight, if you gather your will you will pass this phase smoothly.