My husband has metastatic prostate cancer. He also has edema caused by fluid build up in his legs. His lymphatic system isn’t functioning properly and he can’t get rid of fluid so it builds up in his body. He is taking three water tablets a day to help drain the fluid . He ended up in hospital for six weeks because the edema got so bad he developed an infection which the GP and DN’s didn’t notice and it turned into cellulitis. The fluid also built up in his lungs resulting in his heart failure. He recovered and came home in May this year. Shortly after coming home I noticed he had angry sores on his legs. I called the GP who prescribed a course of antibiotics. He has developed the same problem again and the GP has given him a second course of the same type of antibiotics.
This time the GP said my husband has streptococcus in his legs which has occurred because he has edema.
my husband has had trouble with his legs swelling up for years. The GP’s have never been bothered to investigate or treat it until after he was diagnosed with cancer.
I am wondering if the cancer is making the edema worse and if he is likely to have recurrent problems with strep infections and what happens if the antibiotics stop working. We are both feeling very worried about what might happen. My husband really doesn’t want to go back to hospital and the hospital doesn’t want him back. The Doctors at the hospital have indicated, to me but not to him, that there is not much point in keep treating recurring infections and to let things take their own course.. His oncologist says his cancer is stable, PSA is 2.,
could it be that the swelling and fluid retention is now, after all these years, more serious than having cancer. I can’t get my head around what is happening to him right now. I’m feeling lost and bewildered. Just needed to chat to you tonight. Sorry for waffling on but I’m so grateful you are there .
