My dad

Hello AJT  A warm welcome to the Prostate Community - I am so sorry to read of your dad's issues.

Hormone therapy as you are no doubt aware reduces the testosterone in the body - this is the "food" for the Prostate Cancer. The side effects can cause fatigue and at 81 "old age" is also a contributing factor.

Depending on how long he's been on Hormone therapy and what other treatments he's had (Radiotherapy) it might be an idea to ask his team if he could have a break in his HT treatment - the issue is it takes time for the side effects to go away.

Other Community members will be along with advice - so to help us help you are you able to put something about dad's diagnosis/journey to date on his profile so we don't have to ask the same questions. To do this go to your home page and click on the chair in the top right hand corner, then, "profile" and then "edit". (You can red mine by clicking on the icon of the beach but you don't need to write a novel!).. 

Best wishes - Brian.

Thank you Brian, I've done that now

Hi AJT

The HT, as Brain has said, causes fatigue. But if he was fit before diagnosis, then trying to keep up with whatever regime he had before, - even at a lower level, will help. If he played golf, for example, play 9 holes instead of 18. It feels counterintuitive but helps.

Regards

Stuart

Hello AJT  Thanks for updating dad's profile. Don't forget we are a Community of folk suffering/suffered from Prostate Cancer so we don't give medical advice - just opinions.

Mine is for what it's worth - it's the hormones causing the fatigue and if there's a spread to dad's bones why has chemotherapy not been used as a treatment - is that dad's age? I would be going back to dad's team asking those questions.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hello AJT, and welcome, As Brian Millibob says a profile would really help. As someone who also has terminal PCa  can i just tell you it is still possible to have a good life, however long that may be. As the guys say your body has to get used to much less testosterone, and it can, and exercise is the best way of doing it, take care, Eddie, PS I'm with Brian regarding chemotherapy.

Hi Brian

He was told that chemo would make him really tired and poorly so didn't opt for that. Maybe a discussion is needed again. Possibly to do with his age though?

Hi AJT.

Welcome. My husband is 80 and has just undergone chemotherapy for advanced prostate cancer. The doctors would not suggest a treatment if they didn't believe that your father could handle it. Being a farmer he must be pretty fit which would help in dealing with any side effects. My husband was loathe to have chemotherapy because he had seen it's effects on his mother 40 years previously, but in the end agreed to have it. No it was not easy for him but he also said it was not as bad as he had expected. His comments now are that he is feeling the best since initial diagnosis over 3 years ago and would go through it again - which he will probably have to further down the line. With the chemotherapy cycles my husband was tired and feeling generally unwell on days 3 to 5 of the 21 day cycle. Days 6 to 8 were improvement days and days 9 to 21 he was pretty much back to normal. We just worked round this cycle for the 6 sessions that he had. Everyone is worried about feeling sick but this, along with other side effects were mainly controlled by drugs. 

As to your father's current reaction to hormone therapy, this fatigue and possible bone and muscle aches has been reported when it is first administered as the body gets used to the drop in testosterone levels. These symptoms do reduce but others might rear their head like hot flushes. The thing to tell your dad is not to put up with the side effects as things can be done to help him. If you need information on what to expect from hormone therapy then we can point you in the direction to get it from reputable sources like PCUK and Macmillans. Keeping dad as fit as possible is important, even if he doesn't feel like it. A positive attitude works wonders as this releases the bodies own healing mechanism. There are tweaks to the diet which are recommended but at your dads age you need to balance this with quality of life eg. it is recommended to reduce caffeine - if he likes his cup of tea try caffeine free versions.

Please come back with any questions as there is a lot of information available and plenty of people to help.

Hello AJT  Following on from Alwayshope 's post below is the link to Prostate Cancer UK's advice on Prostate Cancer and fatigue.  Once you are on the PC(UK) site you can download any other publications that you may find of help.

https://shop.prostatecanceruk.org/our-publications/all-publications/fatigue-and-prostate-cancer

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi alwayshope

Thank you for this info. He has told his oncologist about the chronic fatigue, to be told there is nothing they can do, that's just how it is. This makes me angry and frustrated.  He has a phone call with his oncologist on Mon,  ill encourage him to discuss the tiredness and the possibility of chemo again. Thank you and I wish you and your husband well x

Good morning AJT.

I see that Brian has given you the link on fatigue from PCUK. I was wondering whether you dad might also like to talk to someone. There is an organisation called Maggie's which is for anyone who has cancer and their family, who offer a wide range of support and information. If you don't have a Maggie's in your area then maybe a local organisation has been set up to fill the gap. There is also an organisation called Men's Sheds where men just hang out together and your dad being a farmer would have a lot of skills to offer.

Your dad has been asked to make a treatment decision without necessarily being given or taking in the information needed to make it. Does your dad have anyone with him when he speaks to the oncologist? Four ears are better than two as we all take away different bits from the conversation. I always have a list of questions so that I don't forget anything and write down the answers.

With my husband I have a list of jobs for him to do in the morning such as chopping wood, getting the veg garden ready... There are strategically placed chairs all round the place so that he can sit for a few minutes but then back to the jobs. Anything to help keep him active. Afternoon he has a nap for an hour and then this gives him enough in the tank to enjoy the evening. 

With your father I hope that the level of fatigue is just his body getting used to the drop in testosterone. Encourage him to get up and walk around even if he doesn't feel like it, invent something for him to do - diversion tactics - as exercise is the main thing that will help even if it sounds counter intuitive.

There is light at the end of the tunnel.