New and Anxious

Hi Kes256, and  a warm welcome to the forum, though I'm sorry you find yourself here, and you have prostate cancer, I was in a similar situation to you 3 years ago, at your appointment the usual procedure for locally advanced prostate cancer will likely, but not always, be to book you a bone scan, this is routine and in no way means your cancer is in the bones, their just being thorough, if the cancer has spread to just a couple of nodes close to the prostate, there maybe an option for surgery, more likely you will start on hormone therapy HT, possibly on the same day, an anti androgen usually Bicalutamide, 1 pill daily for a month, and around the 2 week point a GnRH, usually Prostap3, these will stop the cancer in its tracks, and hopefully even put it in to reverse, while your team waits for the scan results and decides on the best treatment plans for you,  if you know any of your stats, and your comfortable sharing them, the guys on here with similar ones will be able to share their own experiences with you sooner, my best wishes to you both for Thursday, and please ask the guys and girls on here any questions you may think of.

Eddie 

Hi Eddie, thank you so much for the reply. He had had a bad back for a few weeks and ended up going to an and e, they messed him about for a couple weeks with numerous ct scans, had a biopsy and then he came home. He had the biopsy in the lymph nodes in his neck so I’m assuming it has spread to there. I’m just trying to get as much advise as I can, I’ve told him not to Google but I can’t help it. If the consultant gives us any stats I’ll share them on here. Thank you

Sorry I forgot to ask, how are you doing now, 3 years along? 

Hi kes, sorry to hear

I just wondered when MRI was done because that is what would show if in the nodes.

Question to ask is , how many nodes and are they nearby nodes cos that is important.

Come back when U have more info.

IE  PSA figures, biopsy result, what does the MRI actually say 

Best wishes 

Steve 

Hi Thanks,

He had numerous scans, mri, blood tests at an and e a few weeks ago. They kept him in hospital for a couple of weeks, did the tests and discharged him and we only know now because of a letter that was sent to his doctor he was cc’d in

Ok, well as u are seeing a consultant this week hopefully u will get all the info then.

Make sure u get a copy of the MRI report which does tell u more about any tumour size/location etc

Steve 

Hello Kes256 and welcome from a wife whose husband was diagnosed with advanced metastatic prostate cancer spread to distant lymph nodes in July 2020 and he is still going strong. I won't deny it is a rollercoaster of a journey but as our oncologists say - they have plenty of tools in the toolbox.

Hormone therapy is the first line of attack which will put the cancer into hibernation giving the experts the time to come up with a plan tailored for your husband. It does come with side effects but the best advice initially to help mitigate them is to try and get as fit as possible with some weight bearing exercises included as the reduction in testosterone does cause muscle wastage.

There is a good book you can download for free which explains a lot of things initially.

https://issuu.com/magazineproduction/docs/js_prostate_cancer_guide_for_patients_ezine

From a wife's point of view it is scary and it is very much a couples disease so it is important that you look after yourself as well both physically and mentally. Come back with any questions or if you just need to vent and you will find that someone will be able to respond but don't forget the Macmillan support line is also available.

Thanks, on his discharge letter it says about the size of his nodes. Maybe they are tumours not just enlarged which is what I thought it meant. There is no mention of prostate cancer at all in this letter. He was waiting for his biopsy results at time of discharge as he was discharged the day after (30th April), I’m not sure why it has taken this long. Anyway, he has one sizeable lymph in his neck and 3 sub centric in thorax, armpit and bilateral axillary

Thank you so much, this is great to hear, I’m glad your husband is doing well. I’m determined to be there for him all the way through it. We have a 5 year old who needs his dad. I’m 47 his dad is 63, so we always knew his dad wouldn’t be around for ever but 5 years longer seems a bit unfair. Hopefully we’ll get a few more answers of what is happening on Thursday x

Kes

Has he had any PSA tests, I assume so, do you have any figures for these?

Steve