Husband is newly diagnosed

User

Posted 19 Jun 2015 at 16:11

That's so good to hear. What a weight off your mind. Hopefully the side effects, if any, will be minimal. You can move forward now.

All the best, Arthur

User

Posted 19 Jun 2015 at 16:42

Enjoy the good news.

Intensity of side effects vary considerable between guys so just take it as they come.

Ray

User

Posted 19 Jun 2015 at 18:57

Glad the news was (relatively) good Poppy. It must be a massive relief to you both.
I wish your husband success with the hormone treatment and hope the side effects are few.
You've had an early Christmas eh!

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

User

Posted 19 Jun 2015 at 19:52

I have not posted on your thread before, but I have been following it with empathy of having been there. I am pleased that it is contained and although daunting I am sure that the treatment will not be as bad as you fear.

All the best

Alison

User

Posted 19 Jun 2015 at 21:04

glad you got some news you would have been praying for

nidge

run long and prosper

'pooh how do you spell love'

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

User

Posted 20 Jun 2015 at 09:54

That is good news. As a matter of interest, why have you decided to opt for hormone and radiotherapy instead of surgery?

User

Posted 21 Jun 2015 at 19:37

No intention of trying to influence treatment decision because all treatments have pros and cons relative to each other and at the end of the day a man has to decide what treatment option open to him he goes with. Sometimes a consultant will make a strong recommendation in a particular case but not necessarily . But reasonably, a man will be told if there is/are a reason(s) why particular treatment(s) is/are not recommended in his case.

Just interested to learn whether any option other than RT+HT was considered.

Barry

User

Posted 21 Jun 2015 at 19:39

Hi all, basically we had no other option than radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Surgery was not an option as my hubby got septicaemia after first biopsy. Consultant said it is difficult to remove the prostate after serious infection. They were also concerned as he has MS which is dormant at the moment , but can lead to incontinence if he has a later episode. We are so relieved but also thought of three years hormone therapy is harsh......but we are strong and will get through this x

User

Posted 21 Jun 2015 at 21:25

Hi Poppy,

Well agonising over which option to go with as many have to decide is simplified with Hobson's choice. RT can work well and most men like me found it is a doddle, rather like having a prolonged X-ray at each session, though it can be inconvenient having to attend hospital for each 'fraction'. Like many other men, I found the worse aspect was the HT which can have various side effects but some of these can be reduced by taking certain measures and it is worth finding out about these and being prepared.

Hope all goes well. Please keep us informed.

Barry

User

Posted 21 Jun 2015 at 22:59

Hi Poppy

I don't know if I was naïve or just didn't know any difference but I was only offered RT and HT. when I look at my results on diagnosis comparing them with others they seem to have several choices which I didn't. Apart from the travelling to hospital each day for the RT it was a fairly easy process. Hardest part was drinking a bottle of water before the RT and hoping it wasn't delayed! I travelled in a taxi provided by the hospital and met a lot of good guys in the same situation and many of us became friends. We would support each other, compare notes and 99% were positive which helped. We could also help others who 'joined' as others completed their treatment. As for the HT I've put on weight around the middle and get hot flushes from time to time, I've had HT since January 2013 and it's not a great problem going to the surgery every 3 months for the injection.

Hopefully they can start the treatment ASAP

Arthur

User

Posted 06 Sep 2015 at 18:41

Hi Poppy,

Just wanted to say hello and ask how your hubby is getting on?

What good news that it had not spread.. Hormone therapy can very quickly start to make a big difference. The side effects can be managed. My dad got very hot flushes but we found using a cool pillow in bed (special one that stays cool) really helped. Changing his diet really helped too... Cutting out certain meats, dairy and other stuff helped his energy levels. He got very tired but he adjusted his life to build in rest time each day which helped.

Joan

User

Posted 06 Sep 2015 at 19:42

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hi Poppy,
Just wanted to say hello and ask how your hubby is getting on?

What good news that it had not spread.. Hormone therapy can very quickly start to make a big difference. The side effects can be managed. My dad got very hot flushes but we found using a cool pillow in bed (special one that stays cool) really helped. Changing his diet really helped too... Cutting out certain meats, dairy and other stuff helped his energy levels. He got very tired but he adjusted his life to build in rest time each day which helped.

Joan

Actually, some of the side effects can be horrible and even life-changing but possibly not so noticeable for your elderly dad as they would be for a younger man or his wife & family :-(

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

User

Posted 09 Sep 2015 at 06:27

Good point Lyn, thanks for clarifying. It is different for younger men as the side effects can be more life changing.

Joan

User

Posted 26 Sep 2015 at 00:52

Hi all, hubby is doing well but side effects are indeed awful and life changing. Dave has every possible side effect that hormone therapy can throw at him...This awful illness does change your life drastically but we have to stay strong ... I am

Just so grateful that cancer hadn't spread ( although it is very close to edge of gland , hence 3 years of HT). Take care all x

User

Posted 26 Sep 2015 at 01:32

Hi Poppy,

Unfortunately the side effects of hormone therapy can affect your life quite badly.

I feel so tired that I feel like I'm ready to go to bed after only being awake for a couple of hours. Hot flushes, which did disappear but have returned. An active sex life which disappeared several days after starting HT. Weight gain. Muscle weakness. Lack of concentration and forgetfulness and in my case, a heart attack (though my GP says I would have had one at some point, it may have been hastened by my cancer treatment).

Having said that, I'm pleased that I have a chance that I may be cured.

May I wish your husband the very best of luck in his treatment.

Steve

User

Posted 26 Sep 2015 at 10:02

Thanks Steve, Dave has every symptom you have described... It is really hard for him to cope sometimes especially the tiredness and forgetfulness ... We just have to take this one day at a time . It really helps to talk to others in the same position. It upsets me when those who have no knowledge of the illness say "if you have to get cancer it is the best one to have"... Really !! Even for the lucky ones where it hasn't spread your life changes dramatically . It is early days for us but I really mourn the relationship we had.

Take care of you

User

Posted 26 Sep 2015 at 10:20

Hello Poppy

Is your oh in the middle of his RT at the moment? If he is, this can add extra stress and side affects to the situation as it can do beforehand, as you are both bound to be thinking about it starting and how you will cope with the upcoming appointments etc.

These first few months are really difficult as the shock is sinking in and it is still very upsetting and raw. This may be making you both feel a bit low and lethargic.

Hang in there, your OH will find ways of coping with the side effects whether it be an afternoon nap, a change in bedcovers to assist with hot flushes. Some people find that gentle exercise like brisk walks help.

Lots of things to try.

He is lucky to have a lovely wife like you.

Alison x

User

Posted 26 Sep 2015 at 10:35

Hi Poppy
Which HT is he on may I ask ? When I was given the Oncologist option of treatment , it was to be 3 yrs Bicalutamide with Tamoxifen , with some HDR Bracchy , then some RT last of all. The option was taken away and I had radical surgery instead . Unfortunately that failed ( cancer had already spread ) and I now have to have the HT RT route anyway grrr. Was just interested in what he is taking as it can sometimes be adjusted or changed
Chris

User

Posted 26 Sep 2015 at 12:00

Hello Poppy,

Sorry your husband is finding it tough going.

It's a very difficult time for both of you I know. All we can do as wives and partners is to be there and be as supportive as we can, and I'm sure you are already doing that.

My own daughter used those very words to us when we told her, and she had already had her own cancer and her son's cancer to deal with. I suppose compared to theirs for her dad, at least, he was lucky to get such a low grade as it is.

It still grated a bit though so I do understand how upsetting it is. It seems to be a bit of an automatic saying that has sprung up, like the nurses telling you many men die WITH it rather than OF it. Very helpful that when you've just been diagnosed. The amount of friends and neighbours who said it too, grrrrrrhttp://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif

I think it must be an automatic reaction, perhaps because it comes as such a shock when you tell people, especially when you are relatively young and they don't know how to deal with the knowledge so think they are being reassuring.

However, no man, no matter how "simple" his version of PC is will get away with no post treatment symptoms at all and you feel like shouting at them - you don't know what you're talking about !! Well I did anyway

Thinking of you and hoping the side effects lessen.

Edited by member 26 Sep 2015 at 12:02 | Reason: Not specified

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

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