Hi, I am new to this group but my husband aged 71 has had cancer for 2 years now. His original diagnosis was prostate cancer plus bladder cancer and skin cancer. As treatment was prostate cancer was toxic for the bladder cancer we started simultaneous radiotherapy and chemotherapy each week for 6 months. The side effects were horrendous but my husband who is positive never gave up and came through successfully. Since then he has had cyber knife surgery on a lymph node, again successfully treated and recently went for a pet scan for confirmation.
At this scan they found that he has secondary cancer in the bones and lymph nodes. these have mutated as they have become resistant to the medication. They have spread across the pelvis, down one side of his body ( shoulder, arm hip) and the lymph nodes near his sinus's are also affected.
We now start chemo again, his psa level was 89.7 at the last blood test and I am wondering if we can beat this thing. On the internet, stats say that 15-30° success rate after 5 years , is that from diagnosis of the secondary cancer or original?
Needless to say I am a mess. Ignorance is bliss as we just faced the side effects last time and dealt with them. This time I know whats coming and I am not sure if I am strong enough to deal with it all. It doesn't help that my husband won't talk about it. His way of coping is denial. As I live in France , my ability to converse in French is not up to talking technical with the oncologist.
Has anyone got some realistic advice for me. Is this normal? I can deal with whatever the outcome is but the not knowing and dreading the worst is holding me back.