Prostate cancer diagnosis
Discussion
My world has been turned upside down today when my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has a Gleason of 9 and PSA of 26 and is only 67. Scans are next week and I have been searching on the web for what this all means and to be honest scaring myself to death. Think I need to stop reading things until we have more information. I don't know if anyone has experienced this or someone they know and how things got on? He is going to start Radiotherapy and Hormone Therapy. Trying to carry on as normal and be strong for him and mum but just came home and cried tonight.
Thanks for the information and glad to hear you are doing well. I first read that it was slow growing but the scores seem to show it is likely to have spread. Still no point in assuming until we get the scans I suppose and we know what we're dealing with. We're at Wrest Park on a day out today with mum and dad, we'd planned to do it and better than them sitting at home.
tobeee said:
Sorry to hear this, but (easy for me to say!) try not to worry as that can spread quicker!
My dad had the same treatment described above. He also had the prostate removed, which I think preceded the radiotherapy, but can't remember for sure. We were all just relieved they found it when they did.
My family have never been good at being ill, and rarely get sick, so hearing the initial diagnosis was devastaing for us, and leaving him at his hospital bed prior to the operation, looking a bit lost and frightened, was a pitiful experiance.
The operation was a blur of course, but of the radiotherapy, he said there were two 'worst' parts; the drive to Watford hospital, and the requirement to drink an enormous amount of water before the treatment (which ensures the prostate is more 'visible' I gather). The end of the water intake had to time neatly with the start of the treatment, so he was always really worried about any delays that might cause a pant-wetting episode! It never happened, so that was good! He met some nice people who were having the same treatment for the 7 weeks, so was never alone (my mum accompanied him every day too).
He's been clear for a few years now, and although he's still affected by incontinence, can hopefully have an operation to fix that later this year.
Hope it all works out for your dad.
Thanks - I'm shocked how common it actually is. Will be growing my tache this Movember and would like to do something for a cancer charity - this horrible illness has affected too many people in family and friends now.My dad had the same treatment described above. He also had the prostate removed, which I think preceded the radiotherapy, but can't remember for sure. We were all just relieved they found it when they did.
My family have never been good at being ill, and rarely get sick, so hearing the initial diagnosis was devastaing for us, and leaving him at his hospital bed prior to the operation, looking a bit lost and frightened, was a pitiful experiance.
The operation was a blur of course, but of the radiotherapy, he said there were two 'worst' parts; the drive to Watford hospital, and the requirement to drink an enormous amount of water before the treatment (which ensures the prostate is more 'visible' I gather). The end of the water intake had to time neatly with the start of the treatment, so he was always really worried about any delays that might cause a pant-wetting episode! It never happened, so that was good! He met some nice people who were having the same treatment for the 7 weeks, so was never alone (my mum accompanied him every day too).
He's been clear for a few years now, and although he's still affected by incontinence, can hopefully have an operation to fix that later this year.
Hope it all works out for your dad.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
I read an article recently about more and more men refusing treatment. What with the risk of impotence and incontinence, a lot of men are saying "stuff it. I'll take my chances."
I seem to recall Mike Hollingsworth (Anne Diamonds ex husband) has taken that approach. Prostate cancer is an odd thing, it can spread and kill you quite quickly, or it can lie almost dormant for years and you die of something else.
Pretty annoying to end up incontinent and impotent when if you'd left it alone, you could have had a completely normal life until you died of old age.
I'm not sure this is the calming report I need!I seem to recall Mike Hollingsworth (Anne Diamonds ex husband) has taken that approach. Prostate cancer is an odd thing, it can spread and kill you quite quickly, or it can lie almost dormant for years and you die of something else.
Pretty annoying to end up incontinent and impotent when if you'd left it alone, you could have had a completely normal life until you died of old age.
Had the bone scan results back today and a bit of a mixed bag. Some unusual activity showing up in the pelvis but this could be a false positive due to an earlier injury there. Assuming this is a spread then radiology is out and they want to start on the hormone therapy straight away. So it looks like controlling rather than eliminating the cancer unfortunately. What the doctor did say is that if the cancer responds to the hormones it can be controlled for years and other treatments are being developed all the time. To be honest I'm not sure if it was good news today or not, probably not.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff