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.
Sorry to hear that OP.
You'd do much better going to a website like: http://prostatecanceruk.org/
They have a free helpline number: 0800 074 8383
They will know much more than anyone here.
You'd do much better going to a website like: http://prostatecanceruk.org/
They have a free helpline number: 0800 074 8383
They will know much more than anyone here.
Dreadful news OP,you have both my sympathy & empathy.
I was diagnosed in Dec 2010,the 23rd to be exact,so that Xmas is one that won't be forgotten!
I was 52 & 4mths old at the time,my PSA was 27.9 with a Gleason score of 8,so not dissimilar to your Father.
Every person's diagnosis is different however,but the treatment for your Father will probably be the same as the treatment I have recently received,and still continue with.
The radiotherapy will probably be made up of 37 daily sessions (wk/ends are excluded) so the treatment takes 7.5 wks. Each session lasts no more than 10/15 mins and is in no way painful or uncomfortable.
Treatment post radiotherapy will probably take the form of a mthly or 3 mthly (I chose the mthly) injection into the stomach area,this treatment lasts 24 mths or 36 mths from the date of your first injection.
I can of course expand further on the info above,but have kept the post short,please feel free to PM me any questions you must have,and I will do my best to help you through a tough time.
It might comfort you to know that the treatment and care of Prostate cancer has come on in leaps and bounds over the last few decades,and it's far from the death sentence it once was.
It's far more the case these days, that more men die with the cancer than from it.
Good luck OP.
I was diagnosed in Dec 2010,the 23rd to be exact,so that Xmas is one that won't be forgotten!
I was 52 & 4mths old at the time,my PSA was 27.9 with a Gleason score of 8,so not dissimilar to your Father.
Every person's diagnosis is different however,but the treatment for your Father will probably be the same as the treatment I have recently received,and still continue with.
The radiotherapy will probably be made up of 37 daily sessions (wk/ends are excluded) so the treatment takes 7.5 wks. Each session lasts no more than 10/15 mins and is in no way painful or uncomfortable.
Treatment post radiotherapy will probably take the form of a mthly or 3 mthly (I chose the mthly) injection into the stomach area,this treatment lasts 24 mths or 36 mths from the date of your first injection.
I can of course expand further on the info above,but have kept the post short,please feel free to PM me any questions you must have,and I will do my best to help you through a tough time.
It might comfort you to know that the treatment and care of Prostate cancer has come on in leaps and bounds over the last few decades,and it's far from the death sentence it once was.
It's far more the case these days, that more men die with the cancer than from it.
Good luck OP.
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.
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.
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.
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.
My old man had a similar diagnosis about 15 years ago he had an op for prostate removal and hasn't had a hard on since - which he still gets hacked off about and is quite vocal about at the age of 77.
anyway his psa goes up and down at times but it hasn't affected his life other than the erection issue, to put it in context they reckon most males die with not from prostate cancer and it hasn't even been diagnosed by the time they die of natural causes at a ripe old age.
don't worry about him too much IMO
anyway his psa goes up and down at times but it hasn't affected his life other than the erection issue, to put it in context they reckon most males die with not from prostate cancer and it hasn't even been diagnosed by the time they die of natural causes at a ripe old age.
don't worry about him too much IMO
I don't know what my dads count was but he was diagnosed about last october. They did some kind of scan and found the cancer was all the way through the prostate. He had it out about christmas with some kind of robot surgery. The PSA count was still high after and should have been 0. It turns out it has gone into the bones. He is now on pills which have return the PSA to 0. For some reason I don't understand it is still prostate cancer even though it is in the bones. He will be on the pills now for however long he is about for now with reviews for dosage as his body gets used to it.
Best of luck. It doesn't have to be that bad. Just try to keep calm through it all. Our process lasted months and there is no point getting excited until you know which way it's going (easy to say I know). Hopefully your dads hasn't gone this far. My dads attitude has made it all pretty easy to deal with. It seems like it bothers me and my brothers more. I have no doubt there is quite a lot he keeps to himself. It's the first time we have come to concider his mortality as he's only in his mid fifties.
Best of luck. It doesn't have to be that bad. Just try to keep calm through it all. Our process lasted months and there is no point getting excited until you know which way it's going (easy to say I know). Hopefully your dads hasn't gone this far. My dads attitude has made it all pretty easy to deal with. It seems like it bothers me and my brothers more. I have no doubt there is quite a lot he keeps to himself. It's the first time we have come to concider his mortality as he's only in his mid fifties.
My Dad was diagnosed a couple of years back. Apart from some hormones to shrink his enlarged prostate he has refused treatment. He stopped the hormones as it left him so weak. Currently PSA still below 20 and they check him 6 monthly now. There is talk of some kind of new treatment, but we'll have to see if he'll accept it. He didn't want the radio therapy or the op.
He enjoys a decent quality of life. Clearly his days are numbered, but you wouldn't know it. Things are moving slowly at present is all I can say.
He enjoys a decent quality of life. Clearly his days are numbered, but you wouldn't know it. Things are moving slowly at present is all I can say.
Good luck with it. If it's caught early you have a much better chance.
This is why all men over 50 should have regular tests. My FIL unfortunately didn't and his was discovered late after secondary cancer had taken hold. Particularly frustrating as he spent his life working in a radiotherapy department in a large hospital
He is still fighting it though.
This is why all men over 50 should have regular tests. My FIL unfortunately didn't and his was discovered late after secondary cancer had taken hold. Particularly frustrating as he spent his life working in a radiotherapy department in a large hospital
He is still fighting it though.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 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.
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.
I would listen to the doctor and not attempt amateur diagnosis. There are different forms of prostate cancer from fairly slow to more aggressive. Also it is common n older men but in many cases they continue with their lives and ultimately die of other natural causes. Recent information appears to indicate that surgery has very little impact on the progress of the disease, so is often unnecessary. I have known many people who have contracted the disease who have lived to completely normal life spans.
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.
my grandad sadly passed away from it before xmas. he had it for 7 years. They decided not to remove on first diagnosing it. it then spread to his pelvis and up his spine to the back of his head and lungs (after 7 years, drugs kept it at bay).
I know that sounds terrible but he was old and had it diagnosed late. radiotherapy really messed him up though think he was too old for it really 82.
There is a new drug out which he will probably get put on. My grandad had a great quality of life while suffering from it kept on going on holidays etc until last summer, would always cook me a dinner once a week
and would take no for an answer in helping him!
keep strong and supportive.
best wishes to your family
I know that sounds terrible but he was old and had it diagnosed late. radiotherapy really messed him up though think he was too old for it really 82.
There is a new drug out which he will probably get put on. My grandad had a great quality of life while suffering from it kept on going on holidays etc until last summer, would always cook me a dinner once a week
and would take no for an answer in helping him!keep strong and supportive.
best wishes to your family
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