Hi Steven,
welcome aboard the ship nobody really want to sail on, having found yourself here though I wanted to add my hellos from the Ladies bench.
Where to start on your post ..the drugs you are on are not the commonest ones we hear about being prescribed although they are both in a common group of drugs often used for T3 PCa as a combination hormone treatment. The first Cyproterone acetate (we tend to use brand names its easier so Cyprotax maybe?) is a drug to stop or seriously curtail the production of testosterone which is the main food that PCa thrives on, Initially it is usually given as a one off course of tablets to be taken before and after your first injection of a hormone therapy drug that works in a slighty different way. The tablets help to prevent a condition called tumour flare which is basically the cancer going crazy because it does not like anyone trying to mess with it and it fights back big time. It is a very painful experience and one you will be glad not to have.
Once the injection takes effect the cancer should start to calm down, shrink and with a great result, be stopped in its tracks for as long as the injections keep working. For some men that can be ages as in several or many years. The tablets are usually discontinued after the first injection ..well at least for the time being. If at any stage you show signs that you are becoming resistant to the single HT then a drug like Cyprotax or Casodex can be re introduced.
Recent trial results have shown that Men with bone Mets and a T3 staging benefit from hitting the PCa really hard at the outset and so chemotherapy is given as soon as it can be. What happens after that is really dependent on how well things have gone to that stage. You should read Kev IRUN's proflie and also SiNess as they both have similar start ups to yourself. I am delighted to say that both are doing great and are active here on the forum, Kev has already posted for you, he is an inspirational man to say the very least. I am sure Si will post when he has a quieter time, he has just been the maestro behind a hugely successful charity event for his twin daughter's school. We all call him Si Superman stay with us, read his profile and you will understand why.
I am wondering if you are receiving private treatment here in UK or NHS? it shouldn't make too much difference but experience would make me say that in some regions it really does. I ask because of the drugs you are getting and also because of the early chemo which is yet to manifest in all areas on the NHS.
as for SEs well they vary so much if you are incredibly fortunate you may retain some libido for a while, but that is quite rare it tends to just fade along with other things coming into play like man boobs "moobs" hot flushes and tiredness/muscle wastage etc. There are drugs to minimise the moobs and breast soreness, keeping fit and healthy helps with tiredness and weakness but I am afraid not much works for the libido if anything. However read another profile Alathays, there is always an exception to every situation.
Your new lady friend may be someone who sees you as a great bloke to be with, someone she can share happy times with and someone who provides a fun and caring environment for her children. If you find you can really talk to each other about everything and that you can be 100% honest with each other about how things are, and might be going forward in terms of your developing relationship, then that is a great start.
Sometimes when a woman finds someone who she thinks could become her soul mate and best friend having a full on sexual relationship is not the be all and end all. Nature is the mother of all invention and there are things that can become an acceptable substitute if necessary. A lot depends on how valued the other components of the relationship are.
One thing I would add, and this is entirely my personal point of view, If I met someone who made me happy, who's company I enjoyed, whose friendship I truly valued, who made me feel good about myself, who accepted and cared for my children as if they were his own, and who told me at the start (or at least as soon as he was aware) that he had cancer or another terminal or very serious illness which meant the relationship may not develop fully sexually, or may have a rocky road ahead in terms of well being. I would first and foremost be absolutely thankful for his forthrightness and honesty, also for his selflessness as it would make me feel that this ia a man who I can trust and who would be loyal to me and my children , I would most definitely want to try and make that relationship prosper any way that I could providing support and love in the good times and the bad.
As for chemo and working, If you are able to be flexible It can be done but most people tkae the time off so that they are under no real pressure from that source. If your business partner is happy for you to work when you can and maybe from home that might work. Some men sail through chemo like nothing was happening others have a much more tiring and debilitating time. It may depend on the type of chemo, doasge for each session and the total number of sessions. The normal is Docetaxel 75mg given as an infusion every 3 weeks for anything from 6 - 10 cycles along with steroids. The general trend on well being during treatment tends to be one week ok, one week iffy and one week ok again. It does vary as with all these things.
I hope I have not been too voiciferous, those that know me will tell you I am one wordy lady!!
a warm welcome from me
xx
Mo
edited for typos and I may still have missed some!!
Edited by member 22 Jul 2015 at 16:37
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