Not coping with dad being diagnosed!

You will get a lot of help and support from the people on this forum and you can always call the specialist nurses on the 0800 no. on this website.

Go to publications section and either download the Toolkit or phone for a copy, you'll find this very helpful.

As your dad goes along with treatment add the details to your profile, after the Gleason no. there should be something like "T_No M_". this this gives a clearer indication on the PCa. Click on people's avatars to have a look at their profiles, others will come along who have a similar diagnosis to your dad's and will be able to help you.

Best wishes,

Arthur

Holly,

Chemo isn't that bad. Try reading this:

http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t12167-Surviving-Docetaxel-Chemo#post151949

and then this:

http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t12197-Docetaxel-Chemo---the-highs-and-the-lows#post152202

David

Holly, I've just come from my first chemo session this afternoon. It was a piece of cake and so it should have been. This is now a routine procedure offered early to advanced PCa cases. In my case though, after nearly ten years of other treatments. I have Mets outside the local area in lymph nodes so a bit like like your Dad. A bit younger than him at 73, but probably with a similar outlook. You really must not worry or fear death is near. It isn't. After the course of chemotherapy treatment, if other treatments are needed, there is an increasing choice.

Regarding life style choices and diet, just encourage a healthy balanced diet, forget supplements and fads, eat the things and do the things which are good for the heart. Gentle exercise, nothing strenuous, dog walking a few miles a day is great.

Use your times with him to boost his confidence and think positively about the future. I suspect he may surprise you with his longevity!

AC in Leics.

Chemo doesn't cure prostate cancer but it makes the hormone treatment much more effective so nothing to fear. My father-in-law had chemo at the age of 79; he carried on pretty much as normal apart from a few days each 3 weeks when he wasn't allowed to go to the pub due to risk of infection. Three years later he was still going off camping to France for a month at a time.

You say IF it has gone to the lymph nodes he will be straight onto chemo but have they said what they will do if the lymph nodes are clear? It may be that the hormones will be followed in a few months by radiotherapy - if his cancer is contained, there is a possibility that he could get curative treatment.

No point crying every day - even if it has spread to the lymph nodes he might be around for 10 years or more and you would be exhausted!

Edited by member 22 Mar 2017 at 20:34  | Reason: Not specified

So.…… its been awhile from I updated. Dad has now bone mets and liver mets. his prognosis is now 6months to a year. Hes had several severe infections due to having a catheter fitted, they tried Chemo and hes now on tamusolsin and abireratone (excuse spelling). Its so hard to watch him failing, hes so thin and frail, he isn't eating much at all just the odd chocolate biscuit and he is sleeping on and off all day and night. Hes on MST and Oramorph for pain along with paracetamol, im doing my best to help him as im the only family he has but its really tough as I myself have 2 young boys who are autistic. I really don't think he has a year with the way he is now and sometimes I just wish he would slip away in his sleep so he doesn't suffer any more, then again the thought of him not being here literally makes me freeze and feel sick to my stomach.

Holly