Cancer Self Management my journey and what I have learnt along the way

Hi Everyone

My name is Pete Moore and I have been living with and self managing my prostate cancer since 2016. 

For me I had a bumpy start and the information from on the oncology department was vague, to say the least.  I have been working in pain self management for many years (30+ next year 2026) and was lucky enough to have access to healthcare professionals, I look get support from.  My biggest mistake was taking myself out of the driving seat and putting myself in the passenger seat. A good friend reminded me I let myself to be put inn the medical model of care, which most healthcare professionals are trained inn. 

I was used the looking for information via the internet and one the first organisations that made sense to me, was Pinc & Steel in New Zealand. The talked about having a plan. A plan and programme Pretreatment - During treatment and Post Treatment. Now this made perfect sense to me. 

So I stepped up my stretching and exercise programme because keeping active etc would reduce the caner spreading.  I watched what I ate, avoiding process foods, junk foods sweets etc. 

I am in the process of developing a separate website for people and healthcare workers and it will be called the Self Management Toolkit, so until it is finished, I will be posting information on the Pain Toolkit News link

Below are some other general thoughts and information I have learned along the way.  Please let me stress, these are just my own general thoughts and experiences.  I hope you find them useful.

Cancer Self Management 

Cancer self-management involves people being active engagers with their care team and family, friends and work colleagues to manage symptoms, side effects, and lifestyle changes, improving quality of life and focusing on wellness before, during and after treatment. Key aspects include maintaining a healthy lifestyle with proper diet and exercise, managing emotional well-being through support networks and relaxation, actively engaging in treatment decisions, and utilising reliable information sources to navigate the journey. 

Emotional & Psychological Management

• Acknowledge & Express Feelings: Recognise and communicate feelings such as anger, sadness, or fear with family, friends, or a support group. 
• Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself, similar to how you would treat a close friend or buddy, and practice mindfulness to acknowledge emotions without judgment. 
• Seek Support: Connect with friends, family and work colleagues, support groups, or health professionals to help process emotions and combat feelings of isolation. 
• Find Healthy Self Management activities: Identify and engage in activities that bring you joy and help you relax, such as hobbies, exercise, or meditation. I will be posting more about this on the new Self Management Toolkit website.

Lifestyle & Physical Management

• Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle: Choose a nutritious diet, get enough rest, pace your daily activities and stay physically active to improve energy levels and overall well-being. 
• Manage Symptoms & Side Effects: Learn how to manage physical symptoms, fatigue, and other side effects of cancer and its treatment. Avoid falling into the Boom & Bust Cycle.  Doing too much on one day and less on the next.  Not sure what that means and how to void the Boom & Bust Cycle, please contact me.
• Maintain a Routine: Establish a consistent daily routine for activities like keeping active and sleep to help manage stress and fatigue. 

Information & Decision-Making

• Stay Informed: Access and use accurate, reliable information from your healthcare team and other trustworthy sources to improve your decision-making skills. 
• Partner with Your Care Team: Work with your healthcare team to make informed decisions about your treatment and care plan. 
• Identify and Utilise Resources: Be aware of the resources available to you, such as patient advocacy groups and informational materials, to support your journey.  A good organisation to contact who could support you are Social Prescribers. In the UK they are based with the GP Surgery.  More information them here and here is a link to a really good and short video Around the world, ask your Doctor to be signposted to them. 

Key Principles 

• Self-Management is a Lifelong Task: Cancer can become a a long term problem, requiring ongoing self-management skills to maintain wellness over time. 
• It's a Collaborative Effort: Self-management is a collaborative process between the patient, family caregivers, and the healthcare team. 
• Focus on Quality of Life: The goal of self-management is to maximise your quality of life while managing the demands of managing a long term health condition.

See attached 
 

#InspireSelfMgt 

#StepAsideCancer
 

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