Prostate cancer which has spread to the bones

Hi, my Gleason is the same, 4+3, there is another number you need, what stage he is at. Mine is 3B but listed as possible 4 while other tests are carried out. 
I was offered radiotherapy and hormones. Not chemo. So are you sure it’s chemo? 
Hormones are first line of defence, reducing testosterone production which is what the cancer feeds on. No testosterone and the cancer generally can’t grow any more. In fact it shrinks. I got mine at the biopsy as they wanted to move quickly. 
He would generally be on hormones for a while before radiotherapy or chemo. I was told 3 months, others have said 1 month. 
Another option is surgery. In my case it was not possible as it was intertwined and escaped from its container so no option. It’s worth asking about it to know all options. 
Trust your doctors, I’m  7 months in from finding it totally by surprise. A 4+3 isn’t the best but not the worst, treatment should fix him but it’s a long process , it’s not to tough but does have an impact on all your lives. 3 years for me, the side effects of the hormones can be tough but it’s just needing to adapt your life for a while. 
Stay positive, I’ve spoken about side effects in my other posts so have a look if you wish. Often us guys get loads of support but it’s not just us affected. Wives and children of all ages have to adjust and adapt to our situation. Hormones have made me emotional at the drop of a hat for example and families aren’t used to me, the tough guy who fixes any family issue, blubbering for really no reason. I’ve no reason to be sad, lovely wife, great kids, perfect lifestyle. Just adjusted from the old life I had while all the little things keep coming at me!!! So watch other family members and make sure they are coping too. It’s often forgotten, in my opinion even this organisation takes family support very lightly. 
Hope he isn’t to worried and you get the info you need. Treatment has started or will soon I gather, that’s the good thing!

Thank you for your reply. It was very insightful. My Dad has been offered chemo. I think it’s a relatively new way of treating it. It’s been through trials and had good results…. the chemo is docetaxe and he’d take a darolutamide tablet. Or he can just take Enzalutamide. It has to be started within 3 months of his initial injection, which was the beginning of Jan. He is weighing up the options before he makes a decision.
He hasn’t been told a stage but is going to find out.

My dad is not able to have an operation either.

it was a massive shock for all of us when he was diagnosed but the treatments available seem very effective so the future looks much brighter and we’re staying positive, as you say.

I hope your treatment continues to be successful and Sending positive thoughts your way. 

My husband has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer, spread to the pelvis was the first we knew. Now told it's in the ribs and back. He had hormone treatment to begin with, but now it's moved on, tablets and chemotherapy starting next week.

Hi, it’s such a shock to begin with isn’t it but the treatments are very good! Is your husband having docetaxel? I hope he cope well and the side affects aren’t too bad for him.

Yes, that's the one he will be having. Trying to buy face masks today, just like in covid times. It's the getting ready to basically isolate again, that I think he's finding hard.

Get some pineapple pieces & freeze them, tell your dad to suck on them during the chemo session......it'll help reduce the metallic taste in his mouth.

Some of us have been down the same road as your dad & still here nearly 10yrs later. Nothing to say he can't live life normally for many years to come. There is no one treatment fits all, sometimes it's the same treatments given in different order or a very similar drug with different name but most designed to do two things.

One will prevent the production of testosterone & the other is to prevent the body absorbing testosterone. 

Early chemo has been successful in prolonging time without additional treatments for a lot of men & can be given again depending on the amount of time between chemo ending & another treatment being required ( 18mths if memory serves me correctly) then you have enzalutamide or abiraterone , then another chemo called cabazitaxel along with new drugs coming online in the next few months.

Unfortunately all treatments cause side effects, some suffer more than others some very little. These tend to ease over time, the body just needs time to adapt to them as your dad will also.

Wishing you both well

Steve

Thank you for replying. Good job he likes pineapple as I will be filling the freezer up!