Family member just been diagnosed

Hi

So sorry to hear your news - it's a great shock. 

I can't comment on your Dad's diagnosis, but I will add that researching, in depth, is no bad thing. And joining this group is better still ( I would say that) as there will be others who can help you with your understanding and journey.

Let us have any stats - PSA, staging etc, if you can, as it will help us to help you.

Regards

Stuart

Hello BRT41. Welcome to the club - I know you didn't want to join us but it's the place to be for help and advice.

So sorry to hear about your dad's diagnosis - it looks like the cancer has been around for a while but undetected.

The start on Hormone Therapy will reduce your dad's testosterone - this is the "food" for the Prostate Cancer and will almost right away stop any further growth.

As Stuart above said, once you have some further information from his diagnosis / Consultants meeting let us know and we can help further.

I know you have looked at survival rates but if it's any consolation 98% of men with PC die of something else!!

We are all here to support you and your dad on this journey - feel free to ask as many questions as you wish - we are a good bunch (I am sure Stuart forgot to mention that one!!).

Kind Regards

Brian.

Hi - your Dad's diagnosis is a shock and I agree with Scampidoodle that research is a good idea, although it can mean you suffer from 'information overload'. As everyone's cancer is different and lot of that information may turn out to be irrelevant.  My advice would be initially, not to panic; go with your Dad to his appointment armed with a notebook,  pen & a list of all the questions you have, and take notes. (One of our daughters goes to appointments with my husband, as I would forget half of our questions and the answers).  You could even ask whether you can record the consultation.  I know it is difficult to hear such news, but treatments are brilliant, a positive attitude, trying to stay calm, supporting your Dad and having someone yourself to whom you can talk (this forum being particilarly helpful - you are not alone), all these things will help, particularly through the waiting for appointments, tests, scans and results.  It may help to look at other people's journeys by clicking on their icons by their 'handles' -  everyone's cancer and experience is different.

We wish you and your Dad very well.

Onward and upward!

I live in hope that new drug suddenly appears and kills the muderer that invasion  in our love ones or ourselves

Hi, sorry you have had to join our club, but it is the best place to be for help and support.

My husband is 78 and also has pc which has spread to his sternum, thighs and pelvis. He was diagnosed two years ago and immediately put on HT to reduce the testosterone, which as Millibob describes, is food for the cancer. My OH cannot have chemo because of heart problems, but whilst not the most healthy person by a long chalk, he is still with us. In fact, apart from some incontinence and extreme fatigue, the cancer does not seem to give him any problems.

There are lots of statistics about survival rates, but even if they were only posted a year ago, they will already be out of date as new treatments become available. 

Keep us posted, make sure someone is with him at all his appointments to not only give him support but also to make notes and sense of what is being said. 

Best regards

Gina

Hi Brit41,

As you can see there’s plenty of help to be had here and you can always find someone to give you support and hopefully answers as well as hope for the future. I’m no expert, but I do know that at this stage of diagnosis your immediate reaction is fear and panic as to how long you have. It seems that everyone has a slightly different journey with PC; how your body reacts to treatment, how old you are and what stage etc and how these variables work together. Often people do live a full life and don’t actually die from their cancer, but die from something else. This is because the treatment they are having is able the stop the cancer going further for a number of years. So, the positives here are that your dad is now on HT  and it will hopefully stop any progression of the cancer while he is being assessed. Then he should have a treatment plan that is tailored to his needs. Maybe a stronger type of HT and chemo? ( I’m no expert ) but quite often things can be held steady for a lot longer than you first fear. you don’t say how old your dad is btw? 

look up “Abiraterone” it is a very good drug for someone in your dads position as it can add on more time. It  has now gone generic and only costs the NHS £60 a month so there’s no reason why they can’t use it. Worth a chat at your meeting. 
Also vitamin d and Calcium are essential for helping bone health. 

Best wishes

L 

Hi BRT41

Nearly the same diagnosis as me (see my profile) it's a shock I know but when  they sort out what treatment to put him on you'll be in much happier place, I have stage 4 incurable cancer but my oncologist said there's more treatments out there, just got to be positive, 2 and 1/2 years down the line holiday booked for Rhodes.