Dad just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer

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Hi All,

I’m writing because my dad (67) was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Gleason 10, t3 n1 m1b. Obviously it is not a nice diagnosis but I so want to believe that after a few months of treatment, things might get back to a relative normality. Am I mad for hoping this? Id love to hear some success stories! I’m trying to stay positive; he’s been so active his whole life the whole thing has come as a shock. He’s recently started on the hormone treatment (oral and now an injection) and more treatment to follow…

Thanks so much! 

  • Hello  

    Welcome to the group although i am so sorry to find you here. You have given us your dad's diagnosis but not any PSA figures or any MRI details - you said

    Obviously it is not a nice diagnosis

    Are you aware of what Gleason 10: T3 N1 M1B means?

    Prostate Cancer is a very treatable cancer and 98% of men with a diagnosis die WITH it not OF it.

    Dad's been started on Hormone Therapy - in a nutshell this puts the cancer cells to sleep before any further treatment kills them off. Hormone Therapy comes with a range of side effects fatigue being one of them so dad needs to keep as fit as possible. It also weakens your bone structure so he should have a prescription for calcium and Vitamin D tablets.

    There are plenty of community members here with a diagnosis similar to dad's who are doing well - I am a Gleason 9 (5+4) T3aN0M0 and in the 4th year of my cancer journey - having a great holiday in Turkey Sunglasses. If you click on my avatar you can read my full journey.

    Feel free to ask any questions, however trivial - you will get answers.

    Best wishes - Brian.

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  • I am a year on from diagnosis and I can confirm that things do settle down. At this time you will be suffering from what I have come to think of as a convulsion in my life.

    There have been unavoidable changes, but those changes have been, in the main, minor. I have adapted and life is good.Each treatment has its side effects and difficulties, but almost no one suffers from all of them. Indeed, "suffer" is probably the wrong word. I have "coped with" rather than "suffered from".

    This illness, even if not cured, can be managed over years, often many years. Improvements in treatment have been happening so fast that it is quite likely we will be delivered of new ones even in a year or two.

    Once this period has slowed down and the whole treatment plan is known, you will have a much clearer way forward.

    Steve

    Changed, but not diminished.
  • Thanks so much for the reply. His PSA is 667 - so, quite high and he has bone Mets in his ribs, pelvis and legs. The doctors have said chemo will follow, but hoping that HT will bring the PSA down fast. Because my dad’s cancer is so aggressive, I worry that it will become resistant fast but I’m trying to live in the moment and pray for a limited amount of side effects. When you Google the stats look quite grim! But I try to comfort myself with the fact treatment is always getting better