Advanced Prostate Cancer and life expectancy (rant + sharing our approach)

Hi Myrtlle

Unfortunately I'm only at the beginning of this journey as I've only had 2 of the 6 cycles of chemotherapy, the 3rd is next Friday, so not past my expected sell by date yet, but I'll get there.

I very much doubt that my consultant would have told me had I not pushed him on it. Again personally for me as my cancer is not cureable and they are quite literally managing it in order to try and give me as long as possible but also a better quality of life, I am happy for it to be called 'terminal' which it is in my eyes, I should add it is myself rather than my consultant who has called it this, even my wife called it the same when telling close friends.

From the initial diagnosis I have had the same attitude in that I'm not going to let it win easily and it will have to fight me all the way. A very good long standing client of mine when I told her said 'never forget it's mind over matter 80/20 in favour of positivity' she is very much into yoga and Buddhism and that is exactly the way I'm handling this. I've no intention of being morbid or being negative as it won't alter the fact that I have cancer and will only drag me down. However I understand that we are all different and have our own way of handling these situations.

Anyway that's enough from me, it's time to walk the dog, just a shame it's still raining 

Oh I'm sorry, I read you wrong! When you said your consultant underestimated you by a few years, I presumed you had outlived the prognosis... but you will!

At the very first appointment with the oncologist, I mentioned the word terminal. The oncologist stopped me right there and said that the situation here wasn't terminal, there are many options to treat and give my OH many many years (without mentioning how many, and we didn't ask). I cried. I hated the word terminal, still do. So I was relieved that, according to this oncologist, it wasn't the right term to use.

Yes, mind over matter! Dogs are the best to lift us up, enjoy your rainy walk and all the best with the treatments.

 Hi Sprinter , hope your chemo has gone ok and next 4 are trouble free.  Good luck on Friday.  You have a great attitude and that will carry you a long way.  Best wishes, David

Many thanks. The first was ok apart from the pain in my bones which they are putting down to the Filgrastim injections, I joked with my consultant that had he told me I would have to self inject for 7 days after chemotherapy then he wouldn't have seen me ever again, as it was the first I knew about it was after I'd had it and the nurse handed me a bag of needles telling me what I needed to do. I'll be honest come the Sunday I simply couldn't do it and neither could my wife so it was a call to my GP's out of hours service and they arranged for a nurse to come out, she made it seem so easy and I didn't feel a thing so I said when she comes the following day I'll give it a go and see if I can do it, since then I've done it and not needed the nurse to visit.

The second cycle I had similar pains but otherwise felt okay until day 6 when I have never felt so fatigued/lethargic, this lasted for almost a week and did knock me for 6. I'm hoping this was possibly a reaction to having had a serious bout of COVID which delayed the second cycle by a week as whilst I was clear the nurse did say my infection levels were still slightly raised in the blood samples

Time will tell, but it is what it is and if it means I have a lazy week so be it

 Sprinter I hated the injection part at the beginning and my OH administered them reluctantly.  I was needle phobic  for 67 years but soon grew out of that once treatment started.  Chemo is progressive so if you feel more tired at day 6 you must rest, as your body needs to divert all energy to keep you going.  Hopefully you will sail through the rest but do listen to your body until you are through round 6.  Plenty of time to get fit once the final chemo has been administered.  Best wishes, David

Met with oncologist today .

She said psa in march 31.5

Today 0.4 .been prescribed some tablets and she as also referred me to radiotherapy 

Back in six weeks time 

Best day so far onwards and upwards but not PSA 

PS Forgot name of tablets already choice of two .starts with letter A I think ,side effect can be a rash ?

That’s great to see your PSE is 0.4

is it Aburaterone ?  

Best wishes

Liz & OH x 

Hello Mal CG 

Well that's a post from a happy bunny - it looks like your oncologist is on top of your case. 

The tablets may well be Abiraterone as skin rash is one of the side effects. Here's our guide to Abiraterone:

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments-and-drugs/abiraterone#:~:text=Abiraterone%20is%20used%20to%20treat,help%20reduce%20some%20side%20effects.

Let us know how you get on and good luck with the treatment.

Best wishes - Brian.

Yeah that's the one they are getting delivered as farmacy was closed

Thanks ,that's the one