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Awkwardness When Mentioning PCa?

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Posted 4/13/2022 6:54 PM (GMT -5)
I’m quite extroverted and am frequently out meeting up with both regulars and new friends.

I only bring up prostate cancer if someone else mentions it. When it is being discussed, I interject that I have it and participate in many discussion forums, there is a sudden silence. When I mention that I am an indolent case, needing no treatment or having effects from treatment, the mood lightens up, but a bit too much. It seems that my situation convinces them that PCa is not a serious cancer.

Maybe I should stay silent; but that’s not my nature🤔
Posted 4/13/2022 7:25 PM (GMT -5)

Mumbo said...
They think you just go and get it fixed and back to normal like a urinary infection. Not sure why they think PCa is the special cancer that does not obey the laws of other cancers but it is the “good cancer”, right?

I am reluctant to mention that what I had was prostate cancer. Socially chatting, others always seem to be far more interested in my wife's NHL (which they assume is secret code for breast cancer) than they are in my cancer. They look at me like I'm dirty or something. Prostates can just be cut out and it has no affect on one's life.

Terry's Cellar said...
One in seven men will be diagnosed with PCa in their lifetime. PCa is the second leading cause of cancer death in men and more men will die of PCa this year then women will die of breast cancer.... Far too many men are diagnosed too late or make poorly informed treatment decisions.

That's what makes it the "good" cancer!
Posted 4/14/2022 6:41 AM (GMT -5)
I just say that my prostate had to be removed. Those who are not familiar with PCa are not so much upset because they do not associate it with cancer and those who are familiar PCa understand but they already know more or less the real implication. Of course, this is a trick only for surgery guys.
Posted 4/14/2022 12:27 PM (GMT -5)

jmadrid said...
I just say that my prostate had to be removed. Those who are not familiar with PCa are not so much upset because they do not associate it with cancer and those who are familiar PCa understand but they already know more or less the real implication. Of course, this is a trick only for surgery guys.


That's a good solution! It's like being under the radar.
Posted 4/14/2022 12:57 PM (GMT -5)
I'll say that I never really experienced the mentioning that I had cancer made the the total center of attention and conversation, but much more the opposite of PC is the good cancer.

The level of ignorance about PC is astounding. The other thing I distinctly remember is having my boss insist that I commit to a return date before I left for the surgery--when just a few years previously a co worker with colon cancer was pretty much given unlimited time to recover after surgery, and wide leeway for attendance during his year of chemo.

Again, "good cancer", no big deal, everyone gets it, blah blah blah.
Posted 4/14/2022 10:20 PM (GMT -5)

jmadrid said...
I just say that my prostate had to be removed. Those who are not familiar with PCa are not so much upset because they do not associate it with cancer and those who are familiar PCa understand but they already know more or less the real implication. Of course, this is a trick only for surgery guys.

Same. “They took my prostate out”.

I’m probably the world’s worse prostate cancer ambassador. When I say anything at all it’s along the lines of “a blood test can tell you a lot. But don’t get one if ya don’t wanna know”
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