Baby bro just diagnosed

User

Posted 13 May 2015 at 12:19

My 54 year old baby brother has just been diagnosed.

PSA 150

Gleason 7 (4+3)

Stage T3a

He's had an MRI and bone scans and most unusually, nothing is showing up. The consultant is a little perplexed and says that with such a high PSA it would be almost unheard of for the cancer not to have spread. So currently it's classed as locally advanced. Don't know what they're planning to do to confirm whether or not it has spread further. He's just started hormone therapy (Zoladex) for 3 months and they'll review in August. I assume from what little I've learnt that radiotherapy might then be an option but would just like clarification as to why they haven't offered it from the get go.

We're all very shocked by the news, he's fit and we thought healthy although he does have a few cigs each day. I assume it would be a good idea if he gave up! My other brother is going to have his PSA checked and trying not to worry too much about that, even though he says he has some symptoms of weak flow etc. Dad (88) is currently in his last days and dying from another cancer, although he's always had a raised PSA but it was never investigated. Just wondering if any of you have any advice, we're all eager to learn as much as possible to support him. I must say, he's being very pragmatic and strong and I'm immensely proud of him.

Wishing you all well on whatever stage of the journey you're at.

User

Posted 13 May 2015 at 21:22

Hi Big Sis,

Welcome to the forum but sorry for the reason that brings you here.
It is quite usual for HT (Zoladex or something else) to be given for upwards of 3 months to help restrain the cancer and reduce the size of the prostate before RT is offered. Sometimes oncologists wait for the PSA to drop to a certain level before RT. HT also has the advantage of depriving any cancer cells that have spread of testosterone on which cancer cells feed, at least until much later on.

As you may have read in other postings, an excellent place to start research about PCa is to obtain the 'Tool Kit' by going to the main part of this Charity.

Diagnosis, Gleason and staging would have been through the Biopsy which confirmed the suspicion of PCa raised by the high PSA. I wonder how good the scans were or how well interpreted not to show cancer cells. But having said that, small numbers of cancer cells can sometimes be difficult to see when not clustered.

At least treatment is now being undertaken and I hope this works well.

Barry

User

Posted 13 May 2015 at 21:48

Just to say "Welcome" Bigsis.

As Barry says, the site's Toolkit is a very useful thing to have.

It's good that you are all being supportive as it really does help.

Any questions/worries just ask away. Somebody is bound to know the answer

Best Wishes
Sandra

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 14 May 2015 at 05:26

hi bigsis

welcome to the place for the best information, I say this because only recently have I been diagnosed, my biggest fault was looking for to much info on the internet, stick with this site send for the toolkit I have it, tells you way more then you can imagine

talk with the specalist nurses I have several times, cry when you want to I do and dont give a rats what people think.

told my family I want to know how they feel, we are all in this togeather and will help each other as much as is possable, you will find when ever you tell anyone they will say either something along the lines of 'be strong' or 'dont know what to say' if you know them well give em a hug.

everyone on here likes to be kept updated on what is happening its like one big family (nearly put happy), dont be afaid to post

nidge

run long and prosper

'pooh how do you spell love'

'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User

Posted 14 May 2015 at 08:56

Hi BigSis,

your brothers situation is not too far off my own, PSA 500 on diagnosis T3a Gleason 5+3.

I also went through the search for the 'missing' spread, but there was nothing found.

As mentioned by others, don't rush into RT even though you want everything done ASAP. Give the tumour time to shrink and end up on it's knees before zapping it. I had my RT about 10 months after diagnosis for that reason.

If you click on my name to the left you will see my progress, PSA currently at 0.01 two years on.
Not bad for a three year prognosis.

All the best

Kevin

User

Posted 14 May 2015 at 22:20

Thank you all so much for your replies. I sent off for the tool kit yesterday and it's already arrived! Also spoke to one of the specialist nurses this morning who was marvellous. You all sound so positive and it's good to know that the treatment that's being offered seems to be on track.

My brother is a light smoker and continues to smoke which worries me, especially as I understand that smoking may cause prostate cancer (once diagnosed) to advance more quickly. Anyone else heard this? Also my other brother (aged 56) has typical symptoms - frequent peeing, weak stream, occasional pain and he's having his PSA tested next week. Watch this space.....

All in all a very difficult time for the family, what with dad receiving end of life care and mum not coping particularly well. We've decided not to tell her about my brother's diagnosis yet but am not sure if it's the right thing to do. Thanks again for the support :)

User

Posted 15 May 2015 at 00:27

I am not aware of any research about smokers getting prostate cancer but there was data published recently that indicated RT / HT is less likely to work if the patient continues to smoke. It was linked on a thread on here somewhere - perhaps the search function will pull it up for you?

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 15 May 2015 at 03:10

big sis- my thoughts are with you, already tough on your family with out the other worry, seems that you are the glue at the moment keeping everyone togeather

can understand decision on not informing your mam, its one of those where you cant do right for doing wrong moments, keep us upto date, you wll proberbly have or be having a few sleepless nights

fingers crossed for your brother

run long and prosper

'pooh how do you spell love'

'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User

Posted 15 May 2015 at 09:16

Thanks Lyn, yes that's the research I was referring to, will try and get him to stop....Bladerunner, you're very wise, hope I don't get unstuck!

User

Posted 15 May 2015 at 11:36

Hi Big Sis

with regards to smoking and Pca I can only give the answer that Eric was given all his other medical conditions smoking played a big part heart collapsed lungs twice ect but onc said being a smoker had nothing to do with his Pca.

Carol

User

Posted 22 Jul 2015 at 12:42

Hi BigSis,

I am just new to the community and have been looking at the threads to find out other peoples experiences in hope of finding similar. I've found out that as they say, "we are all individuals". I just noticed the date on your first post, which was the very day I was diagnosed with Pca. Likewise my PSA was 294 and Gleason 8. I am 49 yo and thought fit and well and also had the odd cigarette, perhaps more regularly over last six months.

I was told that there was no hard evidence to suggest a link between the two, but you know what, I think we all know smoking isn't healthy. In my case smoking was a habitual thing and I got out by changing my routines. Once I was diagnosed I had a couple and then stopped for the last two months. (This week has been a bit difficult, so hands up I've had a few, but now made the decision to stop again).

I hope you brother has stopped because his body needs all the help it can get and I know he is an idiot if he doesn't listen to his big Sis - I know I have one.

Hope all is going well with his treatment.

Steven

Notification

Join the online community now.