Please help me underestand...

I think this is probably how it works...

The numbers suggest the hormone therapy has knocked it back by 99.85%, which is a massive reduction.

However, there's still 0.15% of the prostate cells active, which might be cancer potentially growing, and the oncologist wants to try and hit that with chemo to stop those cells growing. This is with the view of making the hormone therapy work for longer.

Best thing is to ask the oncologist if this is the situation.

Gosh, don't be distressed about it - I think the onco is causing you unnecessary worry! Your dad's PSA is great and shows that he has responded to the HT really well. The cancer will not still be growing because it is being starved.

Not everyone gets down to 0.something on HT - this does not mean that the hormones aren't working. Onco sounds like a bundle of laughs - I suspect that if you were able to speak to the specialist nurse or a different oncologist, they would reassure you that the PSA is fine.

I think that the onco is being a bit of a bully. I wonder if he would be quite this way if you went along with dad to the next appointment and just clearly state that your dad does not want chemo. In the country where your dad is, do doctors get paid a lot of money to do chemo? 

Edited by member 25 May 2023 at 01:09  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Francij - I think if my dad were much younger, he might have opted for the chemo. But he was extremely debilitated last year after his blocked prostate caused his kidney function to plummet to  a level nearly requiring dialysis... and so although his urologist strongly urged chemo, the oncologist declined as he thought my dad was much too weak. Fast forward to now, 7 months later, and he hasn't seen the onco since. The urologist, however, is still pressuring him about the chemo. I understand the aggressive treatment style is designed to make treatment more effective, but I'm wondering if he can tolerate the chemo at this stage? His kidney function still isn't great, he is terribly depressed, doesn't exercise and often doesn't eat well. He used to be in good shape for a man his age just before all this happened. So I think he's going to refuse it... but be tormented by his choice at the same time.

WW