Can you help me understand things for my dad (81, just diagnosed)?

Hi dot2dot and welcome 

Yes quite normal to do scans at this point especially with a PSA 68 although not excessively high.

Probably a MRI to check if PC in the gland and a bone scan just in case spread to bones although probably just a precaution as PSA not massively high.

If it is cancer and confined to the gland then still potentially curable with some Radiotherapy.

If spread elsewhere then probably not curable but still very treatable.

So it's good that you are going to further appointments and scan results will be crucial in deciding future plans for potential  treatment.

Good luck

Steve 

Hi Dot2Dot,

 completely agree with Steve’s comments, I was diagnosed 3 years ago, within 2 weeks I had a Pelvic scan and a bone scan which I guess is what your father will have to determine the extent of the PC. Further treatment will be decided upon the outcome of the scans.

 Good luck

 John

Thank you. That is really helpful. I’m a bit worried he will be written off as too old to try anything but them booking scans suggests not I guess. I don’t know what treatment he would want but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Thank you. Sorry to hear you are going through this. Hope you’re doing okay.

Hello Dot2dot 

A warm welcome to the Macmillan Online Prostate community although I am so sorry to find you here. just a quick one from me, has dad had a Prostate biopsy or is he booked in for one?  (it's possible for his age they are going to work from the MRI scan).

Prostate Cancer is one of the "best" cancers to have and 98% of men diagnosed with it die WITH it not OF it.  Here's a link to a free booklet which should give you plenty of information

FIGHTING PROSTATE CANCER - A Survival Guide by Dr Jyoti Shah

Please do come back to us with  any questions, however trivial - we are all happy to help.

Best wishes - Brian.

Yes, cross that bridge later but if treatable,  tumour well contained and not too large then a swift course of Radiotherapy could well see the cancer off, no he's not too old especially as you say he is in general good health, do come back when U know more

Best wishes 

Dad sounds a fit man and I’m sure he is in the best of care, keep positive there are so many advances in care these days, thanks for your good wishes

Thank you. He hasn’t had a biopsy yet. They said they would decide after the scans whether that was necessary. We’ll find out more soon I think but the waiting is the worst isn’t it? I think he’s feeling it strongly partly because his younger brother died of lung cancer a few years ago and that was extremely quick from diagnosis to him passing. Good to be reminded that different cancers behave differently.

Hello Dot2dot 

Thanks for your reply - let's hope they are happy with the scans and don't want a biopsy - that's the worst part of the diagnostic journey. Yes the waiting for tests, results and finally a treatment plan is hard.

As he's fit and healthy I would think that they would go ahead with some form of treatment once all the testing is over and the results are in.

Best wishes - Brian.

You might find this video from the American Prostate Cancer Research Institute helpful in terms of different cancers and different speeds.

Perhaps view it first and decide whether to show it to him.

https://youtu.be/aotF2SPzCmU?si=SrjEVOpC5toiznyl

There is a lot of information on that channel which might help.

And the waiting is absolutely the worst part.

Once you have a plan, you, and he will feel much better.