My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer yesterday, Gleason Score of 9 (4+5)

Hello K, my dad was diagnosed 4 weeks ago such a big blow to get . He too is a gleason 9, his bone scan is clear. MRI on pelvic area showed has spread to pelvic lymph gland. He had CT last week for whole body, currently awaiting results. I cant offer much advice as we are just starting our journey too. I seen my dad tonight for the 1st time in over a week as we were on holidays. He looks great which makes it so hard as I still cant believe this is happening. I just wanted to run out the door and cry. Hugs to you all x 

Hi

Thanks for your reply; I’m so sorry you’re going through this too.

Yesterday was just such a shock and the worst day of our lives. Dad had what we thought was a water infection on Fathers Day - still can’t believe only a few weeks later that we’re here. Just so scared for him.  Being taken into a room and being told the news was just so devastating.

I’m relieved for you that the bone scan was clear and I hope that there will be some effective treatment for the lymph spreading.

I just want to get told the results so that we can try and take the next steps; the waiting is torture for me so I can’t imagine what it’s like for my dad.

x

Hi KeeWi

My dad too recently diagnosed.  We too are waiting ct scan results although not looking good as he has 7 suspicious areas identified on his bone scan.  So we're a little ahead of you but still newbies really.  From my understanding a high Gleason doesn't necessarily mean it's locally advanced it will be the staging that decides this.  If you look on here for prostate cancer grading it will explain.  This together with the scan results and his PSA will give a clearer picture.

Fingers crossed for your appointment next week

J

Hi

Thanks for your reply and I’m sorry you and your family are going through this too.

Sorry, I probably wasn’t very clear - the consultant told us the cancer had spread outside of the prostate and said it was “locally advanced” - he said that’s why surgery to remove the prostate wasn’t an option as it wouldn’t remove all the cancer.  I think that’s why I got the impression that the prognosis was so poor.

They’ve said he’s T3 staging at the moment but my understanding is that all this could get worse depending on what the scans show next week. His PSA wasn’t that high (11) but they said the biopsy results and the grading of 5 (with 5 being the worst) were bad news.

It’s just so scary and so much to take in, isn’t it? 

Hope your CT scan results go well.

K

Yes the waiting is definitely torture! My dad has started treatment. He was on hormone tablets for 1 month and getting hormone injection every 6 months. He is then due to start radiotherapy in Octob. The hormone treatment is needed 1st to reduce the tumour size before radiotherapy can start . Il keep my fingers crossed for your dads test results xxx

Hi K,

Did they say where it spread to. Did he have a pelvic mri already?

Xxx

Thank you xx

Hi,

No, the consultant just said that the examination (DRE) had revealed some abnormalities (hard areas) and the biopsy and grading/staging/Gleason scores showed that the cancer cells had gone outside of the prostate - and said this meant that it wasn’t contained within the prostate itself and was therefore “locally advanced” and said this meant the cancer was aggressive - but said that we’d have to have the CT scan to show if it had spread to the lymph glands or surrounding organs and the bone scan to see if it had spread to the bones.

It just made it sound very bleak; just trying to stay positive for dad.

K x

I know we need to keep our positive heads on!!! This site is very good with lots of info. Keep us posted on the results.

Xxx

Will do xx