Dads cancer

Hello Lesley

Thank you for the update on dad. All looks to be normal for his treatment path at the moment. 

* The hormone Tablets he's taking to start with will be 28 days of Bicalutamide. This is to stop something called "PSA Bounce now he's starting Hormone Therapy. This is already putting the cancer to sleep.

* The 6 monthly Hormone Injections are to keep the cancer asleep and stop it going "walkabout" in his body. The first one should be 2 weeks after starting the tablets.

* The Radiotherapy is to kill off the cancer.

I would think the telephone call from the oncologist is just to introduce himself, tell him dad's under his care now and for dad to ask any questions. You do need to try and get dad to keep as fit as possible as Hormone Therapy has plenty of side effects (some people are lucky and don't get any) but the main one is fatigue.

As Hormone Therapy is known to weaken your bone structure, you need to ask his team or GP for a prescription for Calcium/Vitamin D Tablets - this is often overlooked.

(I am a Gleason 9 on a "Curative Pathway", and I have had plenty of issues that dad hasn't got but I managed 3 years on HT - you can read my journey by clicking on my name or avatar).

I do hope the above helps, if you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask them.

I wish you an dad well moving forward and life should now settle down to the "new normal".

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Lesleymak77 ,

This is following exactly the same course as my own diagnosis a year ago.

I had all the tests, which came out the same as your Dad.

My diagnosis was the same.

I am being treated with "curative intent", which I am sticking to as an intent.

My treatment was started by a nurse.

The oncologist discussed the circumstances with me, and the whole course was planned.

If it works the same way as mine, you will have time to ask all the questions. If it works the same way as mine, your oncologist will answer all your questions before you have had time to ask them.

Either you, or another family member or friend, need to go with your Dad to this discussion. My two daughters came with me. It was only when we compared notes that we realised that it took all of us to notice everything.

I hope it goes well. I believe that it is likely to.

Thank you so much 

it’s just a telephone call on Friday but I shall do what I did when the nurse rang 

put It on speakerphone and make notes 

I think my dad’s just concerned as he didn’t know he would get a phone call so soon. 
but they have all been amazing from the GP 

to the nurses and he’s been extremely lucky to have had swift treatment 

good luck I hope you continue to recover 

best wishes Lesley x 

Hi Brian 

thanks for your lovely reply, I will follow your advise and get my dad an appt with his GP over the calcium etc 

I would hope the oncologist will prob recommend this also my mums read in the leaflet for the daily tablets, that you must stay out of sunlight 

do you know if this is the case? 
we were hoping to take him away this weekend given the nice weather. But I’d rather not if it will cause any issues 

best wishes 

Lesley x

Hello Lesley

It's advised to watch the amount of sun you get if you are on Chemotherapy and after Radiotherapy as they both weaken your immune system.

I spend 15/16 weeks a year in Turkey (my avatar is Ouludeniz) and just stick sun cream on and always wear my hat I don't sunbathe but have never had any issues. As long as he takes the normal protective action he will be fine. The best thing you can do for him is take him away and enjoy the weekend. 

On a cancer journey you have a "new normal" but don't let the cancer diagnosis rule your life - live life to the full.

Enjoy the weekend - I will be doing!!

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Lesley. Sunshine and going out is good for your dad but the hormone therapy can make your dad's skin more sensitive to the sun. We live in Greece so have plenty of hot sun and just take sensible precautions like staying covered, wearing a hat and using factor 50. Enjoy the weekend away and hopefully it will be the first of many.

Thank you very much it’s all new to us as my dad only stated the tablets on Monday 

so we don’t fully know much yet 

but thanks for the advise 

Thank you so much it’s knowing what you should and shouldn’t do that’s hard 

but this forum helps so much 

best wishes 

One of the things that you can do is help your mum to devise healthy menus. One book I came across in our oncologists office is this one.

https://www.royalmarsden.org/blog/how-eat-well-during-and-after-cancer-treatment

Some of the recipes look delicious but the basic principle is to moderate saturated fat, red meat, full fat dairy, sugar, salt but incorporate plenty of fruit and veg, wholefoods and fluids. Some adjustments might be recommended when he is having radiotherapy but we can deal with that nearer the time.

Exercise is key. Living with cancer does not mean having to stop doing the things you enjoy - yes some adjustments might be advisable but many use the diagnosis as a wake up call to sort out priorities and a greater determination to live life to the full.