Prostrate cancer

Hi Bric.Have a read through my bio just click on my profile picture ,then you can see what brought me to this forum,If you want to chat about anything pc related you’ve come to the right place,you will find lots of very friendly members of this club none of us want to be in,just ask away we are all in this together boys and girls.all the very best John T

Thanks 

Hi Bric, and a warm welcome from a fellow treatable, I have read your profile, and I'm sorry your feeling stressed and drained, this is not unusual, nor is difficulty sleeping, but this will improve and hopefully your BP, will be sorted soon too, It's good your treatment is working well a PSA drop from 40 >3.5 so quickly is good news, as is having no bone involvement, and do you know how many lymph nodes are involved as there are possible options if it's only a few. best wishes my friend.

Eddie

Thanks Eddie not sure how many nodes are affected but I will take your word assessment of my psa dropping fast as a plus  ,just got problems with anxiety and blood pressure,as for my doctor he has been a total stranger since diagnosis I’m being monitored by the hospital at home with some gagets on me like a arm band on a nd daily updates on al my statistics,they have been great had me in yesterday to see how I was but a consultant he said lack of sleep and stress and my anxiety is the diagnosis was given such a short time ago not surprised I was feeling like I was really nice guy, the SAS would not get past the reception at my doctors all done over the phone and told think positive 

Forgot to say they took me off enzulimide for a week to see if that has any connection to my rise in blood pressure,but always had high pressure and.back on the tablets on Friday thank you so very much and appreciate your help 

Only just read your profile incredible Eddie hope you have many more years to come I’m not religious but have started I will pray for you tonight if that’s okay 

Hi  Bric, I hope this post doesn't wake you up, I'm glad to hear the Enzalutamide isn't related to your BP, as it's a really good treatment, and your being monitored 24/7, your stress/anxiety and sleep problems will ease, but there are ways to hurry things along, but maybe not through your GP,  I did a relaxation course at  www.maggies.org you can visit or do it online. Bric, I take no interest in my prognosis as nobody knows how long I have, but I appreciate you praying for me.

Eddie  

Hello Bric . There are many of us here who are dealing with treatable, but not curable cancer. It does take a toll on us both physically and mentally, especially at the beginning when we are trying to come to terms with the diagnosis. How we deal with it is a matter of finding something which suits you but might include joining a group of fellow sufferers, having talking therapy which Macmillan can offer, writing a diary, starting a new hobby to distract the mind, increasing exercise. My husband and I took it as a wake up call to get our house in order and then made a conscious decision to live more day to day, be more spontaneous and enjoy whatever time we have left together. My husband suffers from PTSD and depression as a result of his time in the forces so I do understand how debilitating stress and anxiety can be but maybe your GP can prescribe something to help you with it in the short term? - when I had a problem getting past the rottweiler at the GP surgery I wrote a polite letter to the doctor and things got sorted.

There are a range of treatments available for prostate cancer nowadays and being put onto Enzalutamide is one of them. Your drop in PSA in a short time is a good indication that the cancer is sensitive to hormone therapy but a question to ask is whether radiotherapy to the whole of the pelvic area might be of benefit. Now that you have started the HT you know that the cancer is being put into hibernation giving the team time to decide on a plan and with time you will become less anxious and get to accept that it is something which you have to learn to live with. It can be a rollercoaster of a journey with many ups and downs on the way but overall you have to stay positive and rely on the experts. No one should give you a prognosis because each persons prostate cancer is different but definitely think more long term than short term. My husband was diagnosed in July 2020 with lymph node spread both near and far and is still going strong despite several recurrences and different types of treatment for an aggressive form but we are reassured that there are still more tools in the toolbox. 

Ask any questions and we will try and help or if you just need a chat or to vent then there is always someone to listen so all the best for now.

Hi Bric , you are similar to where I was seven years ago.  Didn’t think I would make the next Christmas.  I was 68 at the time and it was a massive shock.  However, the brilliant NHS has kept me going with a mostly good quality of life (read my bio by clicking my name).  Are you going through this alone or do you have someone who you are able to talk to and who can go with you to appointments/treatments?  David

Good Morning Bric 

Another warm welcome to the Macmillan Online Prostate Community, although I am so sorry to find you here. I am Brian one of the Community Champions here on the Community - I too have Prostate Cancer.

I can't add much to the great posts that have already been made so let me see if I can do something for your stress and anxiety. I hope you don't mind but here are a few ideas:

* Here at Macmillan we can offer you Free Counselling from BUPA. Just click on the link I have provided and it will take you there.

* How would you like someone to call you once a week to ask how you are and chat about cancer (or not if you don't want to) -  and anything else you want to talk about - then it's Macmillan Buddies you need. Again just click on the link.

* Do you have a "Maggies" near you. This is a cancer centre where you can just drop in for support - link here - Maggies - the home of cancer care.

* There's Anxiety UK who can help with anxiety and stress on 0344 477 5774 or www.anxietyuk.org.uk

Don't forget our Support Line is there for you on 0808 808 00 00 (8am to 8pm 7 days a week) - They are happy to chat to you and give you some extra help and support.

I do hope the above helps. If I can do anything else for you please let me know.

Best wishes - Brian.