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

Hi Seamus

thanks for your response and I’m glad to hear your treatment is going well and I hope things continue improving for you.

having felt so low a couple of days ago, reading your response honestly helps me feel like we can get through this.

i’ll report back with dad’s results of the further scans as I might need more info / advice etc at that stage

Keeley

KeeWI

There is a good booklet produced by Macmillan called "Having tests for prostate cancer" which gives details of all the tests, what they mean and explains staging.

You can download it from this web page as a pdf

https://be.macmillan.org.uk/be/s-671-cancer-type-p.aspx

As I suggested before you could also contact or call in at a Macmillan Information and Support Centre if you just want someone to talk to about your worries.  They could also signpost you to any other local cancer charity who may also have the facility to talk to someone and/or a support group.  Support groups are where people with the same cancer get together  share their experiences and support each other.

The link for locating a MISC is

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/in-your-area/choose-location.html#17314

or you can phone 0808 80 00 00

Hi KeeWi22, Sorry to hear about your dad, I was diagnosed almost 3 years ago with Prostate Cancer had a Glesson score of 5+4 an it has spread to my spine, ribs shoulders an both hips. I was given 3-6 months to live but I,m still here fighting. I had chemo an radiotherapy, and am now on a drug called Abereterone, which is working really well, my PSA is now down from 197 to 1.6 so something good is working. I know it,s easy to say but your dad has to try an stay as positive as possible, I really think that helps, my Dr said I was quite young to get PC as I was only 52 when diagnosed but hey it makes no difference how old you are. My wife an kids keep me busy which is what your dad must do keep as active as possible an dont sit in a chair an wallow in pity. Treat your dad no differently now he has cancer, he,s still your dad so keep happy keep laughing but most importantly keep positive. I hope I can help with any future questions but take care an stay as strong as poss. Best Wishes Eddie.

Hi Eddie

Thanks so much for your reply and I’m glad you’re doing so well, I hope that continues for you.

Your message has helped, I’ve been with my mum and dad all day and could see dad was getting more down as the day went on. He’s clearly feeling very hopeless at the moment so am doing all I can to keep him positive. We’re going a good brisk walk every day and I’ve got him using my small weights! We’re all also making more of an effort to eat healthily.

thanks again for you kind words

best wishes

keeley

KeeWi22,

Hope this gives you some positivity.  In 2015 I too was Gleason 9 (4+5), PSA 38 and after the scans they decided it was T3b.  It had spread to the seminal vesicles so an operation to remove the gland was ruled out.  Hormone therapy and 37 doses of radiotherapy followed.  I was supposed to be on the hormones for 3 years but the side effects got too bad so I elected to stop after 2 years (this makes little difference to outcomes) and the PSA tests every 3 months went from 0.01(undetectable) up to 0.8(very low) over 3 tests (2.0 is the limit).

It has remained at 0.8 ever since and that will be 2 years in October now since all treatment finished.  I had a scan a few weeks ago to make sure nothing was hiding and it came back clear.  In the NHS, you have to wait 5 years before they say you are cured.  But I like to think I am cured (not always a good word on a cancer forum) so your dad has every chance of successful treatment assuming his staging remains T3a or b.  If it has spread to other organs or bones then there are many treatments available that will ensure he has plenty time for you to look after him.  Treatments are improving all the time.

And don't forget, in the grand scheme of cancers, prostate is one of the slowest growing so don't be alarmed by the use of words like 'aggressive' or 'fast growing' because in reality they are not.  This is a lowly division 3 cancer compared to Premier league ones like lung and pancreatic so there is no need to rush around or worry about a week or two's wait for a scan result.

All the best.       

Do try not to worry too much. I am 72 and was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in Lymph nodes and Bone with a psa of 1400! Yes 1400.

I was given degarelex hormone treatment straight away and this repaired the Lymph nodes in 3 days, leg stopped swelling (My only symptom, I never had water works problems). My psa is now 7 after 12 weeks and I am now undergoing chemotherapy, docetaxol with prednesilone.

It is nothing like as bad as I thought that it would be. However, I did get myself as fit as possible before chemo began whilst awaiting the scans. Brisk walking for 3 x 10 mins daily and doing floor exercises.

Do not google too much. Do as the team advise and the outcome will be positive. No strange diets or complimentaries without their advice as that could negate the chemo. I have this for life and could live ten years yet. 

Keep positive as far as possible.

Good Luck.

Hi SD1

your response has definitely given me some positivity, and in turn that helps me keep my dad positive, so thank you from both of us.

i know everyone’s experience of cancer is different but it really is reassuring to here real stories of people who are living successfully with cancer.

and I hope you are truly cured 

Keeley 

Hi Ral47

thank you for taking the time to reply, this all SLPS so much.

the consultant more or less said that chemotherapy wouldn’t be a viable option, and I understand that each case/person is different but, as you say, I’m trying to concentrate on getting dad as physically fit as he can be so that we’re in the best position to have whatever treatment he chooses that is offered.

keeley

Well said Ral47

Hi KeeWi22

I've just been reading through all that has been written so far. I've been rather busy with treatments, and goodness knows what else.

Briefly I started with a PSA of 143, T4, N0, M0, Grade 5, locally advance prostrate cancer similar your father. I started hormone therapy last November, I've, have 37 sessions of radiotherapy, and following a chance meeting with my oncologist, I'm undertaking a course of Chemo therapy. To date, I've fared quite well, so hopefully your father should do too, however we all tread our own path when it comes to cancer

All of this sound rather daunting, to say the least, before you embark upon treatment. however once you're underway things settle down.

I spotted that you intend to help your father to be a s fit as possible, which is all to the good once treatment starts.

I suspect that the news of your fathers diagnosis came as quite a shock. From my own point of view, I feel that my family suffered more than I did mentally and emotionally than I did. Can explain why, but I just accepted ti as my lot, and had to do what ever I had to do. The hardest part is seeing your family suffer.

In the meantime, I wish you and your father all the best.