A prostate cancer diagnosis can be devastating to the heart and the mind

If your husband, father, brother, uncle, or son is diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s time to turn up the TLC to heroic levels.

Especially in the first few days.

Researchers from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute examined 45 years of health and death records for more than 168,000 men with prostate cancer.

Results showed that in the first year after a prostate cancer diagnosis, the patient’s risk of suicide and cardiovascular events rise. The uptick in suicides was modest, but risk of cardiovascular events doubled during the first year.

The first week is especially critical. In those first few days, risk of a fatal cardio event may be as much as ten times higher than normal. Suicide risk is also highest during that first week.

And don’t imagine that younger men will handle the diagnosis with greater ease than older men. Researchers found that rates of suicides and fatal cardio events were actually higher among younger patients.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson

Source:
“Heart Risk Elevated After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis” Ivanhoe Newswire, 12/21/09, ivanhoe.com