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

The 400 pound was for me and wife 16 day trip usa and guatemala 

Thank you for posting this. I think the mind is very powerful and being positive can be healing - mentally, spiritually AND physically. 

Best wishes to you both.

I've just recently joined this group and this is my first post, which may upset the apple cart.

My view is entirely the opposite of the original poster, I asked my consultant at our first meeting in May what my prognosis was likely to be and to be honest he fudged it, I've since had my second cycle of chemotherapy (on Triplet therapy) and subsequent second meeting with the consultant just under two weeks ago when I asked him again. He gave me his honest estimation which is what I wanted, this doesn't make me negative as I am extremely positive and told him he had underestimated by a good few years, despite only seeing him two times we have a good rapport. Also my cancer isn't curable, so in my opinion whilst they are going to manage it as best they can, therefore it is indeed terminal, again this isn't negative it is being realistic about the situation I find myself in.

As for statistics, they have a wealth of previous information to go on so they can give in my opinion a very good estimation, yes new things are coming along all the time but we can only go on what we currently know.

Anyway my post isn't intended to offend or upset anyone it's simply my perspective on this.

Regards

Sprinter 

 Hi Sprinter hopefully nobody will be too upset as this is a personal thing.  I was happy knowing as well, also being a positive person, it gave me a target to beat!  I am over 2 years past my ‘sell by date’ and hopefully got a bit left.  David

My daughter is part of a group of disabled people, some of them with "terminal" illnesses, who keep in touch by TikTok.

From time to time they have live parties, celebrating the date by which one of the terminal participants should have died. They call these oline parties "sell-by" parties, because the person concerned has passed their "sell-by" date.

There are quite a lot of these parties.

The fact of the existence of the party just proves that the human spirit is really, really hard to break. Also, people are a lot more resilient than we give the credit for.

Hi Sprinter,

It is nice to hear the opinion of everyone on this. In my defence, at the time I posted, I was extremely shocked to see that oncologists, doctors were throwing that prognosis in the face of patients that didn't ask for it, I was a bit emotional. Not everyone has the capacity to deal with this information in the way that you have, so it shouldn't be said, unless the patient asks for it... The mind is very powerful and can do incredible and terrible things.

I would like to point out that you are proving one of my point: nobody can play God and put a sell by date on a person. I am glad you (and many others) outlived your estimated time, and I wish you to continue to live well and long with this uninvited guest.

I am a statistician and data analyst, I build statistical forecasts based on all sorts of data (environmental, historical, etc.). So I understand and know the importance of statistics. BUT, I also know that many many many factors can interfere. I often joke that my forecasts are either lucky or wrong, but there is a bit of truth in this.

Your cancer will only be terminal once all options to treat it have bean exhausted. "Terminal" is such a violent and tragic word to use, it isn't necessary. Stage 4 cancer is treatable, I have examples in my close family. My uncle has lived with stage 4 cancer for 12 years (essentially achieved remission as there was no signs of it for the past 8 years) the cancer has sadly only just returned. Guess what? They told him he had less than a year to live at the time of diagnosis (cancer had spread to his kidney and lungs). I will not quote all the cases I know of, but he isn't an isolated case.

I just think that it should be led by the patient, whether they want to know the statistics (because that's all it is) or not. Medical professionals should refrain from putting it on the table if it isn't asked for.

Wishing you the best on this journey.

Myrtille

All the best for tomorrow Mal CG and let us know how you get on.

Thanks I will.  my appointment I PM .I will post tomorrow evening deffo 

I have to say that my brother-in-law was found to have Stage 4 cancer already spread to bones and spine at diagnois aged 55 just after he took early retirement.  We all knew it was treatable but not curable.  He went on to have a heart attack and survive that a few years later and survived until he was nearly 69 taking a good few driving holidays through the US and seeing his two eldest grand-daughters (twins) graduate from University.  The cancer then spread to his brain and other places and he died back in 2012.  Every time his sons and wife see his consultant at fund raising events he usually says - if only I had had (insert name of a new treatment here)  I am sure i could have got John a few more years with that.  They thought initially he only had 5 so glad he had longer than that.

Hi Myrtille , yes I agree it should be patient driven, we are all different.  I do love your positivity, it will help you both greatly. David