Advanced Prostate Cancer

Hi

Sorry about all the bad news, at least they’ve got a handle on it, treating the cancer. The assurance is the team your with has seen and done this on many occasions, he will be in good hands. I’m a stage 9/10 had it in my bones in various places, still here after six and a half years. Just make sure your checking his temperature morning and night, while on chemo it’s easy to catch anything, especially if he’s having water trouble.

Is he down for radiotherapy after the chemotherapy? It’s usually standard, having said that if he’s having an operation they might hold off on that.

stay safe

Joe

Hi,

I was also recently diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer.  In one lymph node and spine (T4 N1 M1b).  Also Gleason 8.  I’m on hormone injections (Zoladex) and an anti androgen called Enzalutamide which is a similar double whammy as hormone + chemo.  How long either combo works (from oncologist and much reading) varies for each person but hopefully will be several years and when it stops there are other things to try.  Hopefully the op will sort out urine issue and then he’ll be ok for a good while.

Thanks,

Brian

Many thanks Brian. Your kind words are very much appreciated. I really do hope and pray that once this he has several years and for us both to enjoy our early retirement which we took March just gone.

Hi Journeyone. So sorry to hear about your husbands situation - let's hope our NHS do him proud. I can't comment on most of the post, however I had urine retention and ended up with a catheter for 11 months. To be honest if you look after it (if you know what I mean) it can be a friend and helps to relieve (no pun intended) the problem. I got to accept mine and it became part of my everyday life. Last month I had the TURP operation to sort out my urine flow and everything is under control now. If you need to know anything else feel free to ask.

I wish you both well and hope for the best outcome.

Kind Regards - Brian.

Many thanks for your advice. It had been a great comfort to know that. you have gone through what my husband is due to go through and to know it has worked. I pray and hope it works well for my husband as well. He is having terrible problems coping with the catheter, 

Hello Journeyone

I can’t give you much advice about the prostate cancer I’m afraid but, as one very anxious wife to another I really appreciate how difficult this must be for both of you. 

as far as the catheter goes, am I correct in assuming he has been supplied with leg bags? I hope so because that makes them easier to tolerate during the day.  The second issue is that the catheter must be kept clean at the tip of the penis as it can get somewhat sticky and gungey and sore there. Your husband should gently pull the foreskin slightly back and clean around the Cather with a swab which has been dipped into cooled, boiled water. At least, this was what I was taught trillions of years ago! Your nurse should be able to give you up to date info as practice changes over time!

I do hope that you both move into a better space soon and that the chemo is doing it’s job!

best wishes

Good Morning Worried Wife

That's spot on - when I put "if you look after it" - well I thought I would spare the details but crikey you have hit the nail on the head. That's just what I was told and in 11 months I had no issues and no UTI. My nurse couldn't believe it!! I did find the short leg bags - attached to the thigh better than the long leg bags from personal experience,

Kind Regards - Brian.

Thank you, Brian. I spent a lot of years telling men how they should care for their catheters!  I wasn’t sure whether thinking had changed over the years since I retired!

Many thanks for your kind words and advice. It is very much appreciated. It is so good to know that there are people who understand what my husband and myself are going through. 

Good Afternoon

There are plenty of great people in this community, I have only been here a few months but the help and information I have received is nothing but amazing. It's simple things like hot flushes on hormone treatment - I was having them for up to 2 hours at night. Someone said try sage tablets - boom - the most I get now is 5/10 minuets. I find if I need to know something I just ask - we are all in a unique situation but someone will have the answer and you and your husband are not alone on this journey.

You can always click on someone's avatar (mine is the picture of Oludeniz beach in Turkey) and read about my personal journey so far.

Take care and best wishes for 2023.

Kind Regards - Brian.