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Dad, 62 – Gleason 8, T3 N1 M0 – Abiraterone, Hormone Therapy & Radiotherapy

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User
Posted 10 Nov 2026 at 18:47

Hello,

I'm looking for anyone with a similar prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment plan.

My dad is 62 and has recently been diagnosed with:

•Gleason 4+4=8

•T3 prostate cancer

•PSA 7.4 at diagnosis

•One 7 mm pelvic lymph node showing cancer on PSMA PET scan

•No distant spread (M0)

He has just started hormone injections, which are planned for three years. He will start abiraterone shortly, followed by four weeks of radiotherapy after three months of hormone treatment.

The hospital is also checking whether he is suitable for the PEARLS trial.

We would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has had a similar diagnosis or treatment, particularly those with one affected pelvic lymph node who have received abiraterone and radiotherapy.

How did you get on with treatment? How did your PSA respond? And how are you doing now?

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

 

User
Posted 11 Nov 2026 at 09:05

Hello Hayley

This is your Dad, and I was just looking to do the same thing 💏

I love you, and thank you....

 

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 09:00

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
Hello Hayley

This is your Dad, and I was just looking to do the same thing 💏

I love you, and thank you....

Pack it in, Sean. You've made a grown man cry.

That's the most heart warming post I've ever read on here.

Good luck to you and Hayley. 👍

User
Posted 11 Nov 2026 at 11:40
Lots of inspirational members on here, you might want to have a look at Merrivale:

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/default.aspx?g=profile&u=19030

They were part of the original trial that delivered the treatment approach you are now following.

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 09:15

I had tears in my eyes as well with those earlier posts!

Edited by member 12 Nov 2026 at 09:16  | Reason: Not specified

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 10:46
So wonderful to see this support. I now you came on here for advice, but these postings are very inspiring and heartwarming. I wish I could advise. My hubby has been through surgery, HT/radiation. He/we have adapted. His perspective is to throw the kitchen sink at it and adapt/hope for the best. I think that gives hope that helps us a lot. The HT was probably the hardest because of the emotional side effects that we did not understand or expect because I only found this site after the worst of those. RT was a walk in the park relatively speaking. So far the surgeon/radiologist have saved chemo for later. Hope the oncologist will continue to advocate for that too.
User
Posted 11 Nov 2026 at 09:30

Morning Sean

What a lovely response!  I found that quite touching ( being on HT ….).

Again - welcome to the group!  There is lots to find out on here, just ask any questions, nothing too trivial- then we all get a chance to learn from the response.

As you are on ADT could I recommend the excellent webinar run by PCUK called ADT - The Lowdown.  It is run once a month I think. It can be quite frank and personal….

https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/get-support/our-specialist-nurses/adt-the-lowdown

And remember to just click on our names or roundel to see our stories

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User
Posted 11 Nov 2026 at 10:46

Thankyou for your reply, that’s really positive news! So pleased the treatment is working for you, I wanted to post on the forum so my Dad could hear stories from real life people going through the same thing and any advise for managing the side effects.

Good luck with your journey and thank you so much for reaching out. ❤️

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 07:08
Hi Hayley and Dad ! Here’s my husband Gary’s journey so far .Diagnosed aged 55 psa 23 Gleason 4+5 spread to multiple para aorta nodes . Told incurable but hopefully treatable , we were devastated. He was put straight on to hormone therapy prostap injections every 12 weeks which would be for life . Chemo therapy had just been passed to give at beginning of treatment rather than at late stage so he had 6 sessions over 18 weeks . His psa came down really quickly. After chemo he was accepted on to the stampede trial ( lucky again as it was about to close ) he was on abi and Enzo combo . His psa went to undetectable pretty quickly . 11 yrs later he still takes the abi and prostap injections . He still works even though he has just reached retirement age .

Hopefully Dad will experience the same results with his treatment. He’s lucky to have such a wonderful daughter.

Keep posting as we’re a good bunch of wonderful people with lots of knowledge ( not me so much 🥴) .

Things will get easier as a treatment plan is put into place .

Keep strong

Best wishes

Debby x

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 09:14

Hi Hayley

Practical things when dealing with hormones therapy:

1 Use a notebook or Notes on the phone, my memory is not what it was - strikingly so.  Use a calendar - physical or on phone to record events. Jot down questions for appointments as they arise then take them with you.

2 I used the alarm function on my phone to remember to take all of my meds ( lots to take when on chemo) and labelled each alarm with the appropriate tablet.

3 Hot flushes: a small hand held fan is invaluable, I have one by the side of my bed as I seem to get more at night.  I also ditched all of my half zip fleeces and have full zip ones now so I can regulate during the day. Layers!!

Luckily mine are fairly short so I just get on but do take a moment when they hit.  Triggers can be a hot drink or hot food.

4 After nearly a year my body hair disappeared,  this was different from losing my head hair whilst on chemo..

5 Not sure about discussing some of the other potential issues- bit too personal perhaps?

I see that Dad has started a separate discussion.

All the best

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 10:55

Thanks Ceepee,

That’s really helpful, luckily dad hasn’t had any side effects yet apart from fatigue but he’s had that for a while. These will definitely be helpful though, I’m sure now he’s on the other tablets and injections the side effects may ramp up! X

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User
Posted 10 Nov 2026 at 22:06

Hi Hayley

Welcome to the group but so sorry that you have ended up here.

You can see our individual stories by clicking on our names or roundel.

I am 69, diagnosed a year ago with Gleason 9 ( 4+5), Grade group 5 and T3 M1 N1a with a PSA of 953. Mets in pelvic and abdominal area.

I have been on HT a year and had chemo for 6 cycles starting in Feb.  I start Radiotherapy next week.  So I am following the triplet therapy route plus RT.

Halfway through chemo my PSA was undetectable and remains so!

So the treatment is working!!!

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User
Posted 11 Nov 2026 at 09:05

Hello Hayley

This is your Dad, and I was just looking to do the same thing 💏

I love you, and thank you....

 

User
Posted 11 Nov 2026 at 09:30

Morning Sean

What a lovely response!  I found that quite touching ( being on HT ….).

Again - welcome to the group!  There is lots to find out on here, just ask any questions, nothing too trivial- then we all get a chance to learn from the response.

As you are on ADT could I recommend the excellent webinar run by PCUK called ADT - The Lowdown.  It is run once a month I think. It can be quite frank and personal….

https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/get-support/our-specialist-nurses/adt-the-lowdown

And remember to just click on our names or roundel to see our stories

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User
Posted 11 Nov 2026 at 10:46

Thankyou for your reply, that’s really positive news! So pleased the treatment is working for you, I wanted to post on the forum so my Dad could hear stories from real life people going through the same thing and any advise for managing the side effects.

Good luck with your journey and thank you so much for reaching out. ❤️

User
Posted 11 Nov 2026 at 10:47

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hello Hayley

This is your Dad, and I was just looking to do the same thing 💏

I love you, and thank you....

 

Love you more, we’re all here for you ❤️❤️❤️

User
Posted 11 Nov 2026 at 11:40
Lots of inspirational members on here, you might want to have a look at Merrivale:

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/default.aspx?g=profile&u=19030

They were part of the original trial that delivered the treatment approach you are now following.

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 07:08
Hi Hayley and Dad ! Here’s my husband Gary’s journey so far .Diagnosed aged 55 psa 23 Gleason 4+5 spread to multiple para aorta nodes . Told incurable but hopefully treatable , we were devastated. He was put straight on to hormone therapy prostap injections every 12 weeks which would be for life . Chemo therapy had just been passed to give at beginning of treatment rather than at late stage so he had 6 sessions over 18 weeks . His psa came down really quickly. After chemo he was accepted on to the stampede trial ( lucky again as it was about to close ) he was on abi and Enzo combo . His psa went to undetectable pretty quickly . 11 yrs later he still takes the abi and prostap injections . He still works even though he has just reached retirement age .

Hopefully Dad will experience the same results with his treatment. He’s lucky to have such a wonderful daughter.

Keep posting as we’re a good bunch of wonderful people with lots of knowledge ( not me so much 🥴) .

Things will get easier as a treatment plan is put into place .

Keep strong

Best wishes

Debby x

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 08:34

Hi Debby,

Thanks for replying, it’s so nice to read positive stories and I really hope it’s reassuring to my Dad. Has your husband had any bad side effects on the hormone therapy or anything that he’s found that makes the side effects better? So pleased your husband is doing so well. Xx

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 09:00

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
Hello Hayley

This is your Dad, and I was just looking to do the same thing 💏

I love you, and thank you....

Pack it in, Sean. You've made a grown man cry.

That's the most heart warming post I've ever read on here.

Good luck to you and Hayley. 👍

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 09:14

Hi Hayley

Practical things when dealing with hormones therapy:

1 Use a notebook or Notes on the phone, my memory is not what it was - strikingly so.  Use a calendar - physical or on phone to record events. Jot down questions for appointments as they arise then take them with you.

2 I used the alarm function on my phone to remember to take all of my meds ( lots to take when on chemo) and labelled each alarm with the appropriate tablet.

3 Hot flushes: a small hand held fan is invaluable, I have one by the side of my bed as I seem to get more at night.  I also ditched all of my half zip fleeces and have full zip ones now so I can regulate during the day. Layers!!

Luckily mine are fairly short so I just get on but do take a moment when they hit.  Triggers can be a hot drink or hot food.

4 After nearly a year my body hair disappeared,  this was different from losing my head hair whilst on chemo..

5 Not sure about discussing some of the other potential issues- bit too personal perhaps?

I see that Dad has started a separate discussion.

All the best

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 09:15

I had tears in my eyes as well with those earlier posts!

Edited by member 12 Nov 2026 at 09:16  | Reason: Not specified

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 10:46
So wonderful to see this support. I now you came on here for advice, but these postings are very inspiring and heartwarming. I wish I could advise. My hubby has been through surgery, HT/radiation. He/we have adapted. His perspective is to throw the kitchen sink at it and adapt/hope for the best. I think that gives hope that helps us a lot. The HT was probably the hardest because of the emotional side effects that we did not understand or expect because I only found this site after the worst of those. RT was a walk in the park relatively speaking. So far the surgeon/radiologist have saved chemo for later. Hope the oncologist will continue to advocate for that too.
User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 10:54

Hi,

Thankyou for your response, it’s so lovely everyone is so supportive and has advise. I’m really hoping that helps my dad feel supported as it’s so much more helpful from people going through the same thing.

Really hope your husband is coping ok and the treatment goes smoothly xx

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 10:55

Thanks Ceepee,

That’s really helpful, luckily dad hasn’t had any side effects yet apart from fatigue but he’s had that for a while. These will definitely be helpful though, I’m sure now he’s on the other tablets and injections the side effects may ramp up! X

User
Posted 12 Nov 2026 at 14:22

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hi Debby,

Thanks for replying, it’s so nice to read positive stories and I really hope it’s reassuring to my Dad. Has your husband had any bad side effects on the hormone therapy or anything that he’s found that makes the side effects better? So pleased your husband is doing so well. Xx

Gary had really bad fatigue when he was on the trial that involved the 2 drugs ,but since the Enzo was stopped due to the trial ending ,and just staying on the Abi his strength has improved and also the tiredness . Bear in mind he is 66 now and still working ,it’s not too bad . We counter this by enjoying several cruises a year to unwind and recover. Just had our 8 th Grandchild so we are kept busy .

best wishes 

Debby .

 
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