Qwerty2, We already have a member Qwerty but as his answers in conversations say he has had surgery I assume he is no relation?
You are not alone on here being the son/daughter? of a PC sufferer and there have been recent ones just joined too.
Firstly, you must not panic.
Cancer, of any description, is a horrible word and a horrible place to be for the patient but it is not necessarily the end for that person.
There are a number of men on here who started with PSA in the thousands and have spread (look for Yorkhull and irun or Trevor Boothe just as examples) and although they are not in the cure camp, they have lived their lives for many many years with new treatments and trials coming up all the time.
IF you have queries then please post them here, but please remember that your dad will also see them if he is also a member.
There are also specialist nurses available here, not just for the PC patient but also people like us, friends and relatives.
Sleeping and eating are important since you will need to be strong for your dad. What he won't want or need at the moment is to be dashing around looking after you because you've collapsed.#
Make sure you have an adequate diet and do your best to at least relax even if you can't get a night's sleep.
Nobody can say to you "yes your dad has years and years in front of him or his his quality of life will be good" because we are not doctors and can only speak from our own experiences BUT be assured that his doctor is on top of his treatment if he has already started HT and having a scan.
Two patients with the same results on PSA and Gleason and having the same treatment will not necessarily react in the same way so there is no definite answer to a particular question regarding treatment, we can only say how is is/has been for us.
Wait until he gets those scan results and the review of them before you panic.
Keep a positive attitude, especially in front of your dad if you can. He can't afford to expend energy worrying about your reaction if he can see how it is distressing you.
If he has nobody else to attend consultations with him would he let you go too as a second pair of ears is very useful and it may help you come to terms with his treatment.
Of course he may prefer to give you that information in his own way and you'll have to respect that.
I'm sure others will be along sometime today to help reassure you but remember in the meantime that all is not lost so overthinking the situation will only hinder you in providing the support your dad needs.
Look at the HT section of the Toolkit here on the site. It's under publications and will tell you side effects etc which might help you both.
All the best and remember, you are not alone in this. There are others on here in exactly the same position. We help each other as much as we can, but you also have to help yourself to some extent, and that means looking after yourself -so that you can look after your dad.
Sandra
Edited by member 28 Sep 2015 at 09:47
| Reason: Not specified
We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails |
User
My dad has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and I feel like I'm not coping. His psa was 240 and his bone scan has shown spread. I am managing to be strong on the surface but inside i feel sick to my stomach. I am hardly sleeping and barely eating. I keep hoping that perhaps I am overthinking and there is more hope for my dad than I believe at the moment. Please help me to believe that I can still have hope for my dad and he could stay well for some years yet. He has just had his second injection of ht and is having a ct scan tomorrow.
User
Dear Qwertythe second
I think that all of us on this forum can empathize with how you are feeling, as we have all been there. Unfortunately it takes time to get a full diagnosis and then to treat this disease, so there is no relief from the worry and anxiety that has befallen us all.
Like all shocks and upsets though, it does get better in time and we learn to cope with the ups and downs. We all do seem to appreciate the more important things in life and it puts into perspective petty matters that before seemed so important.
Your Dad has got a great ally in you and this is the best that you can do for him. Accompany him to appointments, sort out his drugs, maybe get a couple of books to read on the subject and advise him on diet, cook him some prostate friendly meals and enjoy some good days with him.
Johsan has given some excellent advice, and your Dads cancer will already be shrinking after starting on the HT, so things are well underway. Lots of men on here have been in your Dads position and are here years later to tell the tale and offer advice.
I am not sure of your dads age or situation, but with you on his side will hopefully have many more happy years.
Best wishes
Alison
User
Thank you! I thought that my first post hadn't worked so reposted. I'm not technically gifted at all! I appreciate all replies.
Show Most Thanked Posts
User
Qwerty2, We already have a member Qwerty but as his answers in conversations say he has had surgery I assume he is no relation?
You are not alone on here being the son/daughter? of a PC sufferer and there have been recent ones just joined too.
Firstly, you must not panic.
Cancer, of any description, is a horrible word and a horrible place to be for the patient but it is not necessarily the end for that person.
There are a number of men on here who started with PSA in the thousands and have spread (look for Yorkhull and irun or Trevor Boothe just as examples) and although they are not in the cure camp, they have lived their lives for many many years with new treatments and trials coming up all the time.
IF you have queries then please post them here, but please remember that your dad will also see them if he is also a member.
There are also specialist nurses available here, not just for the PC patient but also people like us, friends and relatives.
Sleeping and eating are important since you will need to be strong for your dad. What he won't want or need at the moment is to be dashing around looking after you because you've collapsed.#
Make sure you have an adequate diet and do your best to at least relax even if you can't get a night's sleep.
Nobody can say to you "yes your dad has years and years in front of him or his his quality of life will be good" because we are not doctors and can only speak from our own experiences BUT be assured that his doctor is on top of his treatment if he has already started HT and having a scan.
Two patients with the same results on PSA and Gleason and having the same treatment will not necessarily react in the same way so there is no definite answer to a particular question regarding treatment, we can only say how is is/has been for us.
Wait until he gets those scan results and the review of them before you panic.
Keep a positive attitude, especially in front of your dad if you can. He can't afford to expend energy worrying about your reaction if he can see how it is distressing you.
If he has nobody else to attend consultations with him would he let you go too as a second pair of ears is very useful and it may help you come to terms with his treatment.
Of course he may prefer to give you that information in his own way and you'll have to respect that.
I'm sure others will be along sometime today to help reassure you but remember in the meantime that all is not lost so overthinking the situation will only hinder you in providing the support your dad needs.
Look at the HT section of the Toolkit here on the site. It's under publications and will tell you side effects etc which might help you both.
All the best and remember, you are not alone in this. There are others on here in exactly the same position. We help each other as much as we can, but you also have to help yourself to some extent, and that means looking after yourself -so that you can look after your dad.
Sandra
Edited by member 28 Sep 2015 at 09:47
| Reason: Not specified
We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails |
User
Dear Qwertythe second
I think that all of us on this forum can empathize with how you are feeling, as we have all been there. Unfortunately it takes time to get a full diagnosis and then to treat this disease, so there is no relief from the worry and anxiety that has befallen us all.
Like all shocks and upsets though, it does get better in time and we learn to cope with the ups and downs. We all do seem to appreciate the more important things in life and it puts into perspective petty matters that before seemed so important.
Your Dad has got a great ally in you and this is the best that you can do for him. Accompany him to appointments, sort out his drugs, maybe get a couple of books to read on the subject and advise him on diet, cook him some prostate friendly meals and enjoy some good days with him.
Johsan has given some excellent advice, and your Dads cancer will already be shrinking after starting on the HT, so things are well underway. Lots of men on here have been in your Dads position and are here years later to tell the tale and offer advice.
I am not sure of your dads age or situation, but with you on his side will hopefully have many more happy years.
Best wishes
Alison
User
Hi Quertythesecond
Several of us responded to this on your other post, it might be worth looking at it again xxx
User
Thank you! I thought that my first post hadn't worked so reposted. I'm not technically gifted at all! I appreciate all replies.
User
When a new conversation starts it has to be checked by administration and that applies to current members too, so there is often short delay before it appears and it's easy to assume it hasn't posted.
You'll know for next time
We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails |
User
Don't worry Quertythe second, many of us have done that. I hope you have found some reassurance here
Lots of love
Allison
User
I know how you feel! My father was diagnosed in 2001. It's heart stopping. You wake up and then suddenly remember, and you get that sick feeling.
I can't tell you about your dad, but I can tell you about mine. He was diagnosed with local spread in 2001, age 61. He had a course of radiotherapy, and was then put on casodex. He stayed on this for some time. When they took him off it, they monitored his psa very closely. As soon as it started to rise, he was put on a different hit.
He's now 75 and still very well. It took a while to get the hang of the HT, but he has.
Your dad will too
Louise xx