This is my first blog and reach out for advice or guidance.
My husband had what he thought was a back injury last August . We ended up going for a private MRI as we could never get a face to face appointment with a physiotherapist and nothing was being looked into .
He was never seen by a GP as they just past on my husbands reach out for assessment to the physiotherapy team . Fast forward to March this year we could wait no longer and booked a private MRI and from the private MRI we received a report suspecting prostate cancer with lesions to the spine . In addition the report state she he has degenerative disc bulge and collapse of a disc.
He was immediately admitted to hospital and diagnosed with stage 4 metastasis prostate cancer . Treatable not curable and received 1 dose of radiotherapy to the spine , and started immediately on hormone injections . He starts chemotherapy next week . When seeing the oncologist there was no guidance given regarding the spine or treatment plan or referral regarding the other spinal issues identified .
He can walk and is active but when he stands his lower back aches and yes he has metastasis cancer which I know can cause bone pain but I feel that they have a cancer plan but not a plan for looking at the degenerative and bulging disc problems .
What I have read is they may need different treatment plans , one for managing the cancer and one for the disc issues which I. Addition cause pain and as a result limit activity.
We have pushed to see a physio as he wants to remain as fit as possible but the physio (video call) says they can’t treat him because of the metastasis , they then just said speak to your oncologist who we won’t see again until June !
The physio wasn’t prepared for the consultation quickly look at his notes giving diagnosis but didn’t look at the private scan tabby details the disc issues . I just feel he has been dismissed and rely that physio could have referred him to a specialist physio rather than sending my husband who is already in a vulnerable emotional state to navigate this for himself .
My husband is desperate to remain fit and be active , but we just do t know what to do next . He struggles to ask questions and talk about it all as this causes him so much emotional anxiety so I need to be strong for him and try and find out what I can do to help. Everything I have read has said physiotherapy is beneficial to strengthen muscles and movement yet we have no physio and when we saw the oncologist he said get your GP to refer to physio and that’s exactly what we did , yet here we are lost in trying to navigate this for ourselves .
I just feel they are not looking at him as whole but only as a cancer patient and any aches pains or problems he may have now or in the future which may not be cancer related will just be put down to cancer .
Has anyone any advice and guidance for me please or can point me in the right direction .
Thank you
Hello Again Kat
I am pleased to find you have found your way here, and again I am so sorry to read of your husbands issues.
My first thoughts are:
* Oncology are on his case as he's already on Hormone Therapy (which will put the cancer to sleep) and he's got a date for Chemotherapy (which will kill off the cancer for good).
* As he's on HT you need to check with his team if he should be taking Calcium and Vitamin D as tablets as HT can weaken your bone structure.
* The issues regarding the disc look to have been overlooked as it's not an oncology issue it's the orthopedists who will deal with this. If it's been missed why don't you contact your hospital PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service). Let them know oncology are doing their bit but you need a referral to the orthopods. They should be able to sort this issue out.
I hope this helps, I am sure others will be along with more help and advice.
Best wishes - Brian.
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