New support group offers assistance to men experiencing prostate cancer

A diagnosis of prostate cancer often begins with discussions about treatment options, survival rates and recovery. Yet many men are reluctant to have those conversations.

A new support group, Courage and Connections, now meets monthly in Gunnison to provide a safe place for men to discuss their experiences with prostate cancer and its physical and emotional effects.

According to a Harvard Medical School newsletter, "The long-term outlook for men diagnosed with prostate cancer continues to improve. About 98% are living for 10 years or more after diagnosis, and the survival rate at 15 years now exceeds 95%."

Those medical advances, however, have also drawn attention to the mental health challenges many survivors face.

Treatment side effects, including erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, can take a significant psychological toll. Physicians have become more effective at managing those complications, and many men recover to some degree. Even so, many survivors continue to struggle with changes in body image and a loss of self-esteem.

The support group was founded and is facilitated by local retired surgeon Dr. Jeff Oster, who was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer about five years ago.

"By sharing the challenges that I have faced, there are a whole lot of other guys who are going through what I have and feel alone," Oster said. "I think you can be honest and forthright about this, and then we all benefit."

Oster said he had little choice but to pursue aggressive treatment.

"Sometimes you get to choose between treating prostate cancer, and for me the choice was made by people who were trying to keep me alive," he said. "I remember the words of my urologist: 'You won't outlive this cancer; you have to do something about it.' I had a prostatectomy, and there was some remaining cancer that had spread to my liver. When I looked at my MRI, I thought it looked like Swiss cheese."

He later underwent chemotherapy and radiation. During that time, his daughter was also diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Ironically, while I was undergoing chemo, my daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, and we joked about carpooling to chemotherapy," Oster said. "You have to find some humor in it somewhere, right?"

Some men, fearing a loss of virility, avoid discussing their diagnosis or seeking help. Mental health specialists say men are often less likely than women to discuss emotional struggles or seek counseling, increasing the risk of isolation during treatment and recovery.

"You have to recognize this is a very personal journey, and many men don't want to go to the personal side of their lives," Oster said.

He hopes the support group will provide a place where men feel comfortable sharing their experiences.

"The primary driver in my life is that this seems like a necessary conversation that may be difficult to start," he said. "Once that conversation develops a life of its own through this support group, the need will show itself as men come forward and realize this is a resource they can use for many different aspects of care. Hopefully, they can find a safe place if they are lost in this process."

In a university article, Dr. Marc Garnick, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and editor of the “Harvard Medical School Guide to Prostate Diseases,” said education and support can play an important role in treatment.

"Having patients more fully understand both the short- and longer-term side effects will help ensure that treatment decisions are correct for the individual," Garnick said. "Prostate cancer support groups can help explain issues surrounding incontinence, erectile dysfunction and alterations to body image. As a prostate cancer specialist, I strongly urge patients and their partners to seek out this readily available assistance."

That assistance is now available locally through Courage and Connections, offering men in the Gunnison Valley an opportunity to connect with others facing many of the same challenges that accompany a prostate cancer diagnosis.

Courage and Connections meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. in the Gunnison Public Library located at 1 Quartz St. The meetings are confidential and free.