My dad has advanced prostate cancer

Good Afternoon Rtb 

Thank you for updating dad's journey. I do hope he's feeling Ok.

Sadly in this day and age a telephone appointment is the new normal.  As there is likely to be some important information in the call is there either anyone who can be there to listen in with him and take notes or is it possible to record the call.

It's important for dad to ask to be sent details of the scan and any proposed action. (If you live in England and request FULL access to you records on the NHS app, test results sometime show up before the meeting to discuss them).

i wish you all well with the results.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hello Rtb, I'm sorry to say this, but my husband was told over the telephone that he had prostate cancer. Since finishing his radiotherapy, all his oncology appointments have been by telephone. 

In some ways, telephone consultations are easier because it means we don't have to go to the hospital (a tedious journey) and sit in a waiting room for hours. In other ways they are more difficult. My husband is deaf and so can't always hear properly what is said and there is no body language to guide him.  We get around this with me being there and the phone on 'speaker' so perhaps your Dad could do this with somebody alongside him to take notes etc?

Whether you are face-to-face or on the telephone there are always questions you don't think to ask or forget to ask until the consultation is over. So, I would suggest your Dad asks for a contact number he (or you?) can ring if he has further questions. If it is you ringing your Dad will have to give his consent for the staff to talk to you.

I hope this helps and I hope it is good news for your Dad. But, if the cancer has spread, please don't despair.  It will mean that the cancer cannot be cured but it can still be treated and managed very well. There are lots of different drugs and treatments out there!!!

Hi Rtb , you have had some great info from the others, so I won’t repeat.  From my own viewpoint all the bad news has been delivered face to face and telephone calls have been for routine issues, but there does seem to be a large variance across the NHS (my centre of excellence is Southampton).  Good luck for the 7th to your dad.  My own journey has been going on for over 7 years with advanced PC and have had a good QoL during that time, so lots of reasons to be positive. David

There was no spread detected on the PET scan, we are over the moon! Thank you all for your encouraging words along the way! Now we wait for treatment plan which we believe will start at some point in December x

Fantastic news!

So pleased for you

X

The best of news. So glad that your dad can start treatment soon.

 Rtb great news. Please come back if you need any help at any time.  David