Hello Round Peg - I am sorry to tell you my husband, Chris, died on 18th September 2020. It gave me quite a jolt to see this post revived this morning - I still check on the Online Community to see how people are getting on. Chris had 8 out of the proposed 10 sessions of Cabazitaxel but it was stopped early June as it was no longer doing what it was supposed to and also the side effects were becoming more unpleasant - after this he slowly began to deteriorate before being admitted to hospital mid-August with an infection and dehydration - he was there for 2 weeks and treated with antibiotics, several blood transfusions and saline drips before being transferred to a local Nursing Home under emergency Continuing Care where he died 2 weeks later - on the day he died we had been married for 45 years and 5 days.
Was the Cabazitaxel worth it? We both decided it was - when he started in January he was in quite a lot of pain - thigh, hip and back - but by February the pain had gone and side effects were fairly minimal. He then had about 4 months pain free and feeling well - of course coronavirus didn't help and as Chris was shielding we couldn't get out and about, meeting friends and going for meals during the 'good' white cell times as we had before, but if times had been 'normal' these 4 months would have been a real bonus. As it was, the weather was wonderful and he was able to read several of those books he'd always meant to read but never had time for before! When he was first diagnosed he was told he probably had about 3 - 5 years - well, he managed 4 years 8 months, mostly feeling really well and with good quality of life which was a lot more than we expected during the early dark days.
Of course the restriction to 30 people at Chris's funeral was a challenge, as it is for everyone, but I asked for donations to Prostate Cancer UK in his memory and the funeral director contacted me just last Friday with the final list which totalled just over £1,200 - a truly impressive amount - he would have been astonished. Prostate Cancer UK has been a lifeline to us - not just the research they fund but the practical support and information, online community of course and the wonderful Specialist Nurses always at the end of the phone - so will always be grateful to them. Of course, Chris's prostate cancer was very advanced by the time it was diagnosed - he had had no symptoms at all expect for pain in his thigh which his GP at the time said was a 'trapped nerve' - it was only when Chris decided to see an orthopaedic consultant privately that an X-ray showed bone mets rather than a trapped nerve. Life is somewhat surreal for me at the moment - I feel I am living someone else's life - knowing this would happen for over four years has not made it any easier or less of a shock but thank goodness for supportive friends and family - Gillyflower I read your posts and totally identify with what you are going through but I know things will improve eventually. Take care all of you and stay safe.
Best wishes - GKP