I wrote about two months ago explaining that my Dad has advanced castrate resistant prostate cancer, gleason score 5+5=10. He had radiotherapy on his spine in May then spinal decompression surgery in June (after which my Mum had a severe stroke and is now in a nursing home).
Anyway, his pain gradually started getting worse again and his legs started getting weak. I asked everyone if this could be athe cord compression returning and they all said no. Then about a month ago he went from climbing the stairs on the Friday to not being able to stand in the Tuesday. They didn't do any tests but the hospice put in place fast track NHS continuing care and he is now in the same care home as my Mum. He has completely lost the use of his legs but no one seems concerned about scans. I am realistic, if this is another cord compression I know they can't really do anything but what frustrates me is that they haven't put him down as end of life but we don't know what is going on. At the beginning of October a ct scan showed that the cancer is widespread in his bones but not in his organs. But what has happened since then we just don't know.
They have started him on dexamethasone and he has really perked up, he is eating again and talking about going on day trips next year. It is great to see him feeling better but it is such a rollercoaster and the threat of the continuing care funding being taken away after a review in February terrifies me. He can't cope on his own so can't really leave the home but the thought of selling his house to pay for care is filling me with stress.
I know that prognosis is impossible to really say but I just want a rough idea of where we are going with this. Could steroids be making him better or are they just improving his quality of life (which is great in itself).
