My dad got his advanced prostate cancer diagnosis late 2023 out of the blue, no obvious symptoms or ill health. He started hormonal therapy and it was working well we went from a PSA of >600 to 1 in a matter of months. Then late 2025 we got the news that it was no longer effective and the decision was made to start chemo - Docetaxel.
The first 2 rounds were manageable but the 3rd cycle has taken everything out of him and he has another 7 cycles planned and I’m not sure he will manage them.
Both him and my mum are scared about the prospect of reducing cycle length or dose and the impact on his life expectancy. I’m worried about the effects the stress is having on my mum, she is forgetful at times
I work in a cancer centre which has its benefits that I am surrounded by wonderful, knowledgeable colleagues but I can’t escape being surrounded by cancer. I am trying to support them both practically and emotionally but it’s breaking my heart seeing what he is going through.
I have been holding it together but I’m sat writing this at 2.58am in tears as I can’t sleep. I don’t have any questions just needed to say this all ‘out loud’ as I’ve got to be strong for my family and at work. If you have taken the time to read this post, thank you.
With healing thoughts to all those affected directly and indirectly by cancer
Hi Lizbet
Welcome to our community, I hope you find it both informative and supportive.
I am Steve, one of the community champions and my experience of cancer is via my wife who has Leiomyosarcoma.
Janice had two different types of chemotherapy and the second of those rendered her cancer stable and it has been that way for over 10 years now, most of that time I have been supported both by Maggies and Macmillan.
In my time I have seen a number of people who work in cancer who have found that things can feel very different when it is someone close. Sometimes I wish it was as easy to do the "be strong" bit as it is to type. Something I found quite helpful was looking at your feelings when someone has cancer as being able to recognize these emotions and accept them as part of the new normal helps me get less overwhelmed.
<<hugs>>
Steve
