Newly diagnosed

Hi JSW123

I think my partner is similar, He has been unwell for some time, no appetite for the last year, pains in hips and legs, diagnosed in October with a slightly lower PSA to your husband. He's been told that he probably has metastatic spread, but it's not showing up on any of the scans, yet. If you click on the blue ribbon you can see his treatment so far as I would think your husbands will be similar. He is about to start Radiotherapy and will continue Hormone treatment for a while after  (1-2 years) before testing where he is. 

We are positive at this point and very impressed with the treatment that he's had so far. It is very shocking to find the diagnosis is prostate cancer, but rest assured there are many treatments available for your husband and he will have very good care, 

Best wishes L

Hello JSW123, my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer last autumn categorised as intermediate to high risk and locally advanced. He was commenced on hormone therapy and finished 20 factions of radiotherapy at the beginning of March. The hormone therapy will be for 18 months with regular PSA monitoring for 5 years. The journey through the diagnostics was the most difficult part - we were reeling with shock and anxiety. Waiting for the radiotherapy was pretty tough too. We were warned of dire side effects and I was scared silly for him. Fortunately he tolerated the radiotherapy reasonably well with tiredness being the main problem - for both of us as the travelling to and from the hospital was long, difficult and tedious. But…we got through it! We were told the treatment was with the ‘intention to cure’ but we know that statistically there is a 30% chance of recurrence. That said, we know that there is a whole armoury of drugs etc and much research going on. So, we move forwards, making a determined effort to enjoy our lives together and with friends and family despite the diagnosis. 

I hope things work out well for you both! I am sure you will get lots of support from this forum - just as we did!

My partner went to the doctors with what he thought was sciatica and just odd days where he was wiped out and thought he had long covid. After baffling the docs at first with his symptoms we finallygot the diagnosis of prostate cancer with a psa level of 589! He was immediately put on hormone injections and sent for bone scans, ct scans and a biopsy. Unfortunately for us his cancer is metastatic and in multiple places and incurable. He has just finishes a course of chemotherapy so fingers crossed that it has done its job in stopping it spreading any further, we will find out tomorrow  

Wow! What a full on journey . Please let us know how you get on, I hope you have good news so we can celebrate with you . All the best and will be thinking of you tomorrow. 

Really hope tomorrow goes well for you  very similar medical history to my OH. The unknown future is killing me  how long was the course of chemotherapy? What drug did he have?

He had 6 sessions of docataxel chemo, he's also on darolutamide along with 3 monthly injections (hormone therapy), steroids but hopefully he'll be weaned off those soon and he's taking part in a clinical trial called stampede trial where he takes metformin as there's research that it extends life expectancy. The cancer has gone into his bones and lymph nodes so he also has a bone strengthener every 3 months and calcium tablets too. This is a man who had a clean bill of health this time last year and then it was like being hit by a train in November! I cannot speak highly enough of the care he has recieved and is still getting, the NHS have been wonderful .

Hi JSW123

My hubby was diagnosed in November 2021 with aggressive stage 4 prostate cancer with multiple bone mets

He was started immediately on hormone injections which he still receives now. After 6 months of injections he was given 19 fractions of radiotherapy which seemed to help at the time and bring his PasA down from its original 5.1 ( which doesn’t seem high but is aggressive so doesn’t show high ) it went down to 0.07 which was amazing

He was started on Bicaltumide in April as he didn’t want chemotherapy. 
we have a meeting with oncologist tomorrow to see what his latest MRI shows

Its a rollercoaster journey and partners and wives go on that rollercoaster too as we hate to see them in pain 

I hope you get all the answers and treatment needed. 
Big love x

Hi  again JSW123.

For research purposes it's worth reading about the 'Stampede trial" Also mentioned by Fishy2112 . My partner is on "Abiraterone" as an early first line treatment because of the positive results from this trial. Normally this drug was given as a later stage drug and also as an alternative to Chemo in covid .Through the trial they discovered it also gives great results if used early by helping with a "possible cure?" in some cases, but certainly an extension to life in others ".Enzalutamide" is also a very similar to Abiraterone,  

L

So the results are good, his psa level is now 0.18, the cancer in the lymph nodes has shrunk back and his bone density has improved . He will carry on having zometa to strengthen his bones and he is waiting for an appointment for a mri scan on his back because he's struggling with pain  in it but his oncologist isn't too concerned about that and he has to have another CT scan at the end of June, so after putting life on hold for 6 months we can now start to enjoy life a little bit for a while until we have to face the next hurdle. Looking for some reasonable travel.insurance now so we can tick a few boxes 

Thank you x

It certainly is a rollercoaster! so emotional too.

I hope your meeting with the oncologist went well.

Biopsy day tomorrow for my hubby.