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Hello my dad is 71 and has just just found out he has adavanced Prostate cancer with matatasis to the bone. His grade is a T4. His PSA is 29. His gleeson grade is 5 + 5 giving him a 10.
4 weeks ago he had trouble with his water works, he had a test done and prostate cancer was found. After extensive testing imaging came back to show that it has moved into the bottom of his bladder and into his bone. The bone scan shows his uper body from the pelvis upwards riddled with it. He has about 6 big masses, 2 in his spine 1 in his shoulder 1 at the back of his neck and 1 on his collar bone and 1 on his elbow.Then he has spots on different locations, like his pelvis, ribs arms etc. They have put him on hormone treatemnt. He is living on his own in bundy and i need to get him moved down to where i am immediately. My first question is.....how the hell does this not turn up earlier, why did he not get earlier symptoms???? Second question is when this seems so bad why cant anyone give us a time frame?
He is becoming very weak very quickly. I am concerned that he will fracture or break bones easily espeacially with the evidence that hormone treatment can weaken the bones as well!He is getting very centralized pain in certain areas.
So sorry to read your post Janelle. Let me try to answer your immediate questions:
1. How the hell does this not turn up earlier, why did he not get earlier symptoms???? Most prostate cancer is what is termed asymptomatic - there are simply no symptoms until it is well advanced. Combined with men's reluctance to see a doctor, and to acceot that some of the early symptoms related to PCa are 'just part of growing old, and .... the diagnosis is advanced stage.
2. Although prostate cancer is often discussed as if it is one disese, there are many variants. Most are what is termed indolent; some are very dangerous. The bad news is that your father has one of the latter.
3. Your second question Second question is when this seems so bad why can't anyone give us a time frame? is not so easy to answer, but essentially it is because there are so many variables that it is simply impossible to make any accurate predictions. I tried to cover these aspecst in my piece THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. Perhaps you'll find that of some help.
4.It usually takes a deal of time for the hormone therapy [Technically known as ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy] to weaken the bones, but the tumours may have eakend the bones and he should take care. You/he shold speak to the doctor about suitable supplements that can be taken to strengthen the bones while he is on ADT.
I'm sure you'll have many more questions - please don't hesitate to post here or mail me directly. I may not have all the answers, but I can usually point you in the right direction.
1) This is why it is important to get PSA tested every few years; it would have identified a problem.
3) Since you asked about how long your Dad might live and the doctors will never tell you I can give you very general estimates based on what happens in the next 6 months:
If he responds well to the hormone treatment, PSA goes below 1.0 and stays low, then he probably won't die of prostate cancer given the progress that is being made in treatments coming out in the next three years.
If the hormone treatment doesn't drop his PSA down to below 1.0 and the PSA starts to go back up within about 3 months then he will probably live about 1 to 3 more years.
But never give up hope because every case is different and better treatments are coming out every month.
4 As Terry said the treatments that he will receive shouldn't weaken his bones until he has been on the hormone treatment for a few years but the cancer might already be causing bone weakness.
After a month on the hormone treatment all his prostate cancer symptons should disappear for as long as the hormone treatment is working.
I will look into asking my GP about supplements for dad. I am also in the process of trying to get an appointment to see an oncologist to see what i need to be aware of in helping dad through this. Also he hasn't seen one yet so when i get him down here i have to set him up with my doctor and hopefully the same oncologist i see. I have all his medical notes and results with me.
I feel quite overwhelmed with what comes next, as he has also got diabetes and his lower legs and feet are going very dark. And he has just had 2 knee replacements! He is a strong old bugger! And i know he is in more pain then what he is letting on. So with all of that i am a bit scared of not knowing how to look after him properly, but i am determined to learn quickly and i want to make him as comfortable and happy as possible.
Gee, Janelle, your Dad certainly does have a multitude of problems to deal with. I'm amazed that no one checked his PSA level before his knee surgery - or maybe they did and that led to his biopsy? And surely the X-Rays which must have been taken for the surgery would have spotted such widespread metastases?
And knee surgery with advanced diabetes in a man in his 70s? - again a surprising medical decision. So often we see specialists in one area of health completely ignoring other ares outside their limited focus. Madness!!
Good luck with what is likely to be a very rough ride I am sorry to say.
Just a quick question Janelle. I suspect you are from the U.K.as are my husband and I. The U.K. seem to be way behind with testing. My husband was tested too late, even after asking for tests. He was "put off" by his G.P. after he was told it's an inconclusive test. Good luck with your battle.
Jennie
Hi Jennie, No we are in Australia, i am surprised as is my dad, by the fact that he has had so much medically going on that this hadn't turned up earlier, seems crazy to me!
Doesn't give me much faith in the medical system!
