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User
Posted 10 Jan 2021 at 14:39

My husband has recently been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and is due to begin chemotherapy at the end of this month. He is 70 and had no symptoms whatsoever. A routine diabetes review revealed atypical cells in his urine. This led to further investigations where a blood test showed a PSA of 89. We saw the oncologist on 6th Jan who informed us that there were metastases in his pelvic bones and his Gleason score is 8. I guess I wanted to share things with people who can relate to our experience. Still recovering from the shock of diagnosis and the uncertainty.

 

User
Posted 14 Jan 2021 at 14:07

Gosh, you did well to get from the USA into Germany so quickly with all the Covid restrictions - did he have to self-isolate when he got there?

Fortunately, most members here are in the UK and don't need to travel overseas for RP. Also fortunate that generally speaking, it is not a good idea to rush into having the op - taking time to speak to different consultants and explore other treatments is very important. 

Edited by member 14 Jan 2021 at 14:08  | Reason: Not specified

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 10 Jan 2021 at 22:20

Hi Ms Plow, sorry you're here. Prostate cancer which has spread is never good news. If the psa was in the hundreds or thousands it would be very bad news. Treatment will be possible, and it may preserve his life for many years. Treatment usually starts with reasonably mild drugs and these last for a few years, then the cancer gets used to them and stronger drugs are required 

Dave

User
Posted 11 Jan 2021 at 02:08
Please download or order by post the free “Tool Kit” comprehensive information folder from the publications section of this website.

Best of luck.

Cheers, John.

User
Posted 11 Jan 2021 at 15:03

Hi,

Sorry to read your experience.  In general I find medical people only tell you what they think you need to know.  Sometimes people don't want to know too much anyway so it's up to the patient to learn as much as they want to and then to ask the questions.

I had surgery and haven't had any drug treatment but I wonder if they mentioned hormone treatment or if it would be hormone and chemo, both together or one after the other.  You can ask on here if it gets more specific.

We're all different both in our conditions and how we react to them.  The treatments effect people differently and we react differently mentally.  Some men don't want to talk about it.  You can also ring the nurses at Prostate Cancer UK for advice and there is Macmillan.  Many hospitals have Macmillan Offices and specialist nurses who can be very helpful.  People on here are helpful as well.  There are a number of wives in a similar situation on here, some who've been writing for a long time.  If that's at all helpful.

All the best,
Peter

User
Posted 11 Jan 2021 at 15:31

Thank you for taking the time to reply. He has started hormone treatment too. This was started the same day as diagnosis. The oncologist did give us the opportunity to ask lots of questions. I have spoken to one of the special nurses from Prostate Cancer UK following the initial diagnosis. 

 

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User
Posted 10 Jan 2021 at 22:20

Hi Ms Plow, sorry you're here. Prostate cancer which has spread is never good news. If the psa was in the hundreds or thousands it would be very bad news. Treatment will be possible, and it may preserve his life for many years. Treatment usually starts with reasonably mild drugs and these last for a few years, then the cancer gets used to them and stronger drugs are required 

Dave

User
Posted 11 Jan 2021 at 02:08
Please download or order by post the free “Tool Kit” comprehensive information folder from the publications section of this website.

Best of luck.

Cheers, John.

User
Posted 11 Jan 2021 at 15:03

Hi,

Sorry to read your experience.  In general I find medical people only tell you what they think you need to know.  Sometimes people don't want to know too much anyway so it's up to the patient to learn as much as they want to and then to ask the questions.

I had surgery and haven't had any drug treatment but I wonder if they mentioned hormone treatment or if it would be hormone and chemo, both together or one after the other.  You can ask on here if it gets more specific.

We're all different both in our conditions and how we react to them.  The treatments effect people differently and we react differently mentally.  Some men don't want to talk about it.  You can also ring the nurses at Prostate Cancer UK for advice and there is Macmillan.  Many hospitals have Macmillan Offices and specialist nurses who can be very helpful.  People on here are helpful as well.  There are a number of wives in a similar situation on here, some who've been writing for a long time.  If that's at all helpful.

All the best,
Peter

User
Posted 11 Jan 2021 at 15:31

Thank you for taking the time to reply. He has started hormone treatment too. This was started the same day as diagnosis. The oncologist did give us the opportunity to ask lots of questions. I have spoken to one of the special nurses from Prostate Cancer UK following the initial diagnosis. 

 

User
Posted 11 Jan 2021 at 15:33

Thank you for your reply and your recommendation.

User
Posted 11 Jan 2021 at 15:34

Thank you for your reply. It's so good to be able to engage with people who can empathise with our situation.

User
Posted 14 Jan 2021 at 12:07

Sorry to hear that. Today, the diagnosis of cancer is very common. It takes different forms, but its treatment in all cases is very unforeseen and difficult. When treating cancer, I advise you to contact clinics in Germany, if, of course, you have the material resources for this. My husband was tormented by severe aches, doctors made different diagnoses, but I would like to hear the exact diagnosis. The diagnosis was completely disappointing - prostate cancer. My husband had a very high-quality and, which is also very important, a quick operation there.

Edited by member 15 Jan 2021 at 08:32  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 14 Jan 2021 at 14:07

Gosh, you did well to get from the USA into Germany so quickly with all the Covid restrictions - did he have to self-isolate when he got there?

Fortunately, most members here are in the UK and don't need to travel overseas for RP. Also fortunate that generally speaking, it is not a good idea to rush into having the op - taking time to speak to different consultants and explore other treatments is very important. 

Edited by member 14 Jan 2021 at 14:08  | Reason: Not specified

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 14 Jan 2021 at 15:04

We received negative Covid test results, so we both didn`t have to self-isolate when we got here

Edited by member 14 Jan 2021 at 15:05  | Reason: Not specified

 
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