Just a worried daughter looking for some help.

Hi  Mmmmmmmmm, and a warm welcome to the forum, though I'm so sorry to hear about your dad, but I'm glad you joined the forum, I posted you on the new to the community forum earlier suggesting you join.

Your dad and I have a lot in common, prostate cancer in lymphs and bones, lifelong heart issues, co-morbidities and a wonderful daughter(s). 

Not knowing any of your dad's statistics, means I can only talk in general terms, sadly for those of us with bone involvement, there is no cure at present, but there are plenty of treatments available to slow down, stop or even put the cancer into reverse for some time, with, as we like to say on the forum, plenty more tools in the toolbox, I've been on my journey over 3 years, and hope for a few more, but not knowing your dad's stats, means I would  be guessing which of the treatment options available, will be offered to your dad. My treatment so far has been hormone therapy, with radiotherapy alongside for a month, then 2 different hormone therapies together with chemotherapy next in line.

PS, it took me a little while to tell my girls, so maybe they just need a little time to understand everything before telling you, and you keep supporting your dad and telling him how much you love him, that's the best thing you can do for him.

Eddie 

Hello Mmmmmmmmm and welcome from a wife. My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer which had travelled to the lymph nodes and had spread to other parts of the body 5 years ago, with recent spread to the bones. Nowadays this cancer is treated more as a chronic disease which can be treated with a range of different things to keep it under control for hopefully many years. If you want to learn about the disease there is a book which you can download for free.

https://issuu.com/magazineproduction/docs/js_prostate_cancer_guide_for_patients_ezine

As Eddie has said, showing your dad that you love him is the best thing you can do along with keeping him positive. Your dad will possibly undergo a range of treatments in the next few months, initially with hormone therapy to put the cancer into hibernation by stopping testosterone production to starve the cancer of its food so you might find that your dad gets more tired and he might also suffer with other side effects from it. Starving the cancer gives the experts time to sort out a plan tailored for your dad which might include chemotherapy or radiotherapy but what will be offered depends on your dad's other illnesses. If you learn a little bit about the disease then maybe you can speak to your dad from a sensible standpoint. If your dad is anything like my husband the first few months are the most frightening but things do settle down and we do still have a good quality of life although adjustments have had to be made.

We are here as an extended family who all have prostate cancer in common so ask any questions and we will try and help. 

Thank you so so much…. I woke up this morning and was so excited to see I had replies… this group is Honestly amazing ! 

From what I know he’s had two lots of hormone injections already and had to go pick up some tablets but not sure what these are for. 

im so sorry to hear about your story but it sounds like you are such a strong character ️

Thank you so much for your reply….. I’m so sorry to hear about your husband but it seems like everyone on here is so strong and knows what everyone else is going through and it’s amazing to be able to talk to people. 

I will definitely read that book as I feel like learning more about it will definitely help me with understanding it all and being able to support my dad. 

️

If your dad has been given tablets as well as the injections it is probably what are called second generation antiandrogens. These are very powerful hormone tablets designed to lower the testosterone production throughout the body and have been shown to work well for men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer which has spread outside the prostate. A question your dad needs to ask is whether the experts think he is suitable for either radiotherapy or chemotherapy which can actually kill the cancer. If your dad wants help himself then encourage him to join the forum as we can point him in the direction of where to get information but also he might find that he wants to talk to someone who has been there, done that and worn the T shirt. With your dad's type of cancer the hormone therapy he is on will work for a while but then the cancer can find a way round it - this can be anywhere between a few months to a few years and there is no predicting it. My husband has an aggressive form which means that he has to keep on top of the cancer with different types of treatment of which there are many, and more being developed all the time. Stay positive.

Hi Mmmmmm, your very welcome sweetheart, the good folk on here are an amazing bunch, and they all remember that awful time early in diagnosis, the uncertainty, not knowing and fearing the worst, so are best placed to help those just starting on their journey.

Hormone therapy HT,  injections and pills are a very good treatment for controlling the cancer, putting it to sleep, often for some time, there are other treatments available too, to not only control this awful disease but to kill it.

And thank you, I'm doing ok, 

Eddie xx 

My husband was diagnosed 7 years ago grade 4 with a spread to the skull pelvis spine ribs femur.He had 6 cycles of chemo 3 monthly decapeptyl injections Biculamatide and most recently xtandi.I would just like to say with the support of this forum and other groups we were able to make lovely memories had wonderful holidays and enjoyed every day we had.I was frightened like you at first but the more I learnt the easier it was to live with it.Take each day as it comes make memories. Sadly my husband passed away last Tuesday with something totaly unrelated to his prostrate cancer but I choose to stay on this forum and the other groups to give support to all these brave warriors.Keep fighting everyone.

Hello hellodolly 

Thank you for such an inspiring post - your continued support is very much appreciated.

hellodolly said:

Sadly my husband passed away last Tuesday with something totaly unrelated to his prostrate cancer

I am so sorry to read this part of your post - please accept my sincere condolences and do remember our Support line on 0808 808 00 00 (8am to 8pm 7 days a week) is available to you. I love the part of your post about memories - it's such an important part of the journey.

We do have a group on the Community you may wish to join for continuing support and the link is here;

 Bereaved spouses and partners forum 

If I can do anything for you at this time please don't hesitate to message me - my private message box is also open.

Kind Regards - Brian.

Hi hellodolly,  my sincerest condolences for the loss of your wonderful husband, and deepest commiserations to all his loved ones. Your continuing support to others leaves me full of admiration and respect, your an amazing person.

love Eddie xx 

I’m so sorry to hear about your husband…. I’ve learned so much from being on this group from all these amazing people like you and I feel like I understand more that even tho I’m scared it’s not about me it’s about my dad. And that was hard to realise that actually it’s not just me struggling x