Not good news…

Hello Rachael, I'm so sorry to hear of your Dad's prognosis. Is he saying he won't have any more treatment or are the medical team saying he won't? The trajectory of this illness seems to be so different for each and everyone of us.

My father in law died of prostate cancer almost 24 years ago - well before treatment was as advanced as nowadays.  We were with him at the end and he slipped away very peacefully. I don't recall any episodes of diarrhoea.

That said, I think, if I had been faced with 4-5 times of bloody diarrhoea, I would have asked for more proactive medical help to manage the situation.  It might be better to seek that help before we get closer to Christmas when services will be closing? I am not sure which doctor has said to keep an eye on it but if it was the oncologist, then perhaps his GP can help or vice versa? Also, a prostate cancer specialist nurse or the palliative care team might be able to help him?

My thoughts are with you and your family and I hope you can get the help you need to keep your father comfortable.

Hello Rachel (Rachaelp24) 

I am so sorry to read your post and agree with the post from Worriedwife above. I most certainly think that dad should be receiving more help in these circumstances. I think you need to go back to either the GP or Oncology team and ask for a referral to the local Community team for some extra support.

I would also advise you to contact our Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 - it's a free call - (8am to 8pm 7 days a week) and see what further support they can offer.

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks to you both. He still lives on his own and has said he was going to call them but will wait a day or two to see if it eases. 

It was a mutual agreement to end chemo with the hospital and himself. He got to round 4/6 but was admitted to hospital with bad breathing. We then discovered he has emphysema. 

It’s not nice but he is going to die and I want to know when. I lost my mum to cancer ten years ago and she died alone in hospital with neither me or my dad by her side. I’m worried the same is going to happen. I felt with my mum that I had no idea that she was going to die that quickly. 

Anyway sorry we actually saw the lead doctor last time so you always know something is bad when they turn up! So it was the oncologist that said to keep an eye on it but to ring them at any time if things changed.