I'm interested in conversations about and I want to talk about
Know exactly what you want?
Show search

Notification

Error

Relapse with spread to the bones

Email this conversation Print this conversation
User
Posted 30 Sep 2021 at 13:45

Hi Everyone, I am sure I am not the first person to put a post like this on here but feeling totally panicked and hoping someone can offer me some hope. 

My Dad was diagnosed with PC in 2017 at that point he had a PSA of 74 and a Gleason of 7 (4+3) he had Rt and 2 years of HT. All was well until 18 months ago his PSA started to creep up. We were told it was normal for is to increase after HT and would settle down again. 6 months ago it was 2.3 which I was concerned about but was told until it hit 4 not to panic. His latest test came back at 7.9 which then triggered scans and they have just come back showing it is back and it's now in his bones. He apparently has hotspots in his right hip. 

He is a really healthy 72 year old, vegan diet, really active. We all feel totally blindsided and distraught. We lost our mum to an aggressive brain tumour 3 years ago and my husband is just completing treatment for bowel cancer so to be here again feels desperate. 

I have read about lots of men who have lived for quite some time with it in their bones at the point of diagnosis but am wondering if we are in a worse situation because it has come back and has only now spread to his bones? He has an appointment in 3 weeks to discuss treatment options. I understand there are possible HT options, maybe chemo? When my Mum was ill we did not have a lot of options because of her age (she was 66) but I am thinking that with prostate cancer, if he is otherwise healthy we will still have options? 

Is there anyone out there who has been in a similar situation?

Thanks for reading x 

User
Posted 30 Sep 2021 at 17:27
Yes there are lots of options, and we have members still here and living a good life 10 years or more after news like your dad's. All treatment options will involve him going back onto the HT; they may suggest chemo or enzalutimide alongside, both of which can make the HT more effective for longer. Are you able to attend his next appointment with him? If so, ask whether you can be copied into all correspondence - they will need your dad's consent for that so worth discussing with him first.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 30 Sep 2021 at 17:58
The important thing to remember is that "incurable cancer" is NOT the same thing as "terminal cancer". As Lyn notes, many men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer go on to live long and happy lives, and many die with the cancer, not from it.

Best wishes,

Chris

User
Posted 30 Sep 2021 at 19:05
Chances are he already had undetectable micromets in his bones when he had the primary treatment it is only now they have got big enough to show up.

If he only has 2 or 3 spots he may be able to get these treated with Radio Therapy if they are outside the original treatment field.

Now he is faced with long term HT and bone mets nutrition will become more important if he wants to maintain healthy bones and platelets. Not sure a vegan diet will be sufficient unless he is taking a lot of supplements.

User
Posted 01 Oct 2021 at 20:34

Thanks Lyn, that is really reassuring. He certainly responded well last time to HT. I'm starting to feel much calmer than I was 24 hours ago. Thanks again for your advice X 

Show Most Thanked Posts
User
Posted 30 Sep 2021 at 17:27
Yes there are lots of options, and we have members still here and living a good life 10 years or more after news like your dad's. All treatment options will involve him going back onto the HT; they may suggest chemo or enzalutimide alongside, both of which can make the HT more effective for longer. Are you able to attend his next appointment with him? If so, ask whether you can be copied into all correspondence - they will need your dad's consent for that so worth discussing with him first.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 30 Sep 2021 at 17:58
The important thing to remember is that "incurable cancer" is NOT the same thing as "terminal cancer". As Lyn notes, many men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer go on to live long and happy lives, and many die with the cancer, not from it.

Best wishes,

Chris

User
Posted 30 Sep 2021 at 19:05
Chances are he already had undetectable micromets in his bones when he had the primary treatment it is only now they have got big enough to show up.

If he only has 2 or 3 spots he may be able to get these treated with Radio Therapy if they are outside the original treatment field.

Now he is faced with long term HT and bone mets nutrition will become more important if he wants to maintain healthy bones and platelets. Not sure a vegan diet will be sufficient unless he is taking a lot of supplements.

User
Posted 30 Sep 2021 at 20:57

Thanks so much everyone, for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it. I think one of my biggest fear right now is that because he has already had HT the first time round would that limit our options the second time round, but it sounds like there are options if one type of HT is not successful? I am so scared of losing him, losing my mum in 2018 was so painful. I know from previous experience that the wait between diagnosis and treatment plan is the worst but reading some of the posts on this friendly forum has definitely giving me some hope. 

User
Posted 30 Sep 2021 at 21:57
There is nothing in your post to suggest that HT wasn't successful the first time so no reason to think it will be unsuccessful this time. When it does fail (which it will at some point) they will add other hormone deprivation combinations.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 01 Oct 2021 at 20:34

Thanks Lyn, that is really reassuring. He certainly responded well last time to HT. I'm starting to feel much calmer than I was 24 hours ago. Thanks again for your advice X 

 
Forum Jump  
Email this conversation Print this conversation

Join the online community now.

Click through to become a member and gain access to support, information and real time replies.




MenuTop ▲
©2025 Prostate Cancer UK