Husband newly diagnosed and with lots of questions

Hi Yaamba, what a relief to have some knowldge before meeting with the doctor on Monday.   I am happy to hear there is nothing of any significance!  I smiled when I read what the envelope said.  That's taking charge of the situation!

We purchased our book at Amazon.com.  Delivery was 5 days.  We got a used copy at a reasoable price.  Before the book arrived, I checked out a copy at our local library. Good luck in finding a copy.  It will be most helpful!

Aimzee

Thanks to you both,

I am about to go on to Amazon and get a copy right now. I did try the library, and because the local one did not have a copy, they undertook to check out what was available as an inter library loan for the duration until my own copy arrives.

They local branch has put aside some other books which sound good and I will pick them up this afternoon.
Right now am looking after baby granddaughter who is sleeping like an angel. We have a lot to be thankful for this year, with the addition of two new grandchildren, and both of our children settled well, one within 10 mins drive and the other about 40 mins away, with great husbands and four delightful children between them which we see very regularly - 3 or 4 times a week.

cheers to you all.

ps. I think I have worked out how to do a signature, so hopefully this should appear with future posts.

Indeed, Grandchildren and young children do add a dimension to our lives!  That's wonderful you have two little ones to love and slightly spoil!    There are many other Grandparents here, and parents of young children. 

I hope you can get a copy soon.

We also purchased, "How We Survived Prostate Cancer:  What we did and what we should have done."  Author:  Victoria Hallerman.  It discusses the many methods of dealing with the various treatments.  Also, there are a few very personal chapters discussing sexual intimacy and love.  Less technique than some of the other books, but very worthwhile.

Yaamba, you and your DH (dear husband) WILL make it through this journey.  The more prepared you are, the easier it will be.  I wish you the very best on your journay!

Best decision making possible wished for you & hubby,

Aimzee 

Firecracker, I am sorry to hear this news.  Welcome to the group no one wants to be a part of.  I think your husband will feel better once the catherer is taken out.  May he have a quick recovery!

Yaamba, I apologize for my error - you have four Grandchildren!  We take care of our younger two while my daughter and SIL work.  They seem to help Ron heal faster.  I hope you are getting the answers you need.

Best wishes,

Aimzee

Back from the Urologist yesterday.

News was not as clear cut as we had thought it might be.

The CT scans my husband had appeared good, no problems visible anyway.

The Bone Scan, although seemingly ok on the surface, did however reveal a small "hot spot" in the right parietal region (skull). Unfortunately it was not able to be identified, and although the radiologist had said that it probably was NOT a metastatic spot, it cannot be ruled out as such.

The urologist sees it that way too.

So, where we thought that it might have been a clear case for choosing the treatment we wanted (after consultation with many specialists) there is now another barrier before we can even start.

Husband goes in for an MRI of the skull to try to determine what the hot spot is.  Possibilities could be reasonably benign, e.g. Pagets disease or a bone island.    Or,

could be a small metastatic spot.   The main problem of course is that my husband had a serious (level 4) melanoma excised in late September.  So, if it IS a metastatic hot spot, then has it come from the melanoma, or has it come from the prostate cancer?  This is our dilemma.

PCa specialists unwilling to go ahead with treatment for PCa until they know, because its no use having surgery for a radical prostatectomy (and that is the only option they recommended due to evidence of pathology etc.).  Of course, we can choose not to go that way and they will support any of our decisions, but we trust specialist implictly and know that he does not just choose the easiest options, but will try to see individual cases and their needs.

So.... in for an MRI, which will determine the cause of the hot spot.

If its a benign condition, then we go ahead with the Rad. Prostatectomy in January - robotic surgery.

If its indeed a hot spot, then my husband will need to have surgery in his skull to remove the spot, and have it examined by pathologist to find out whether its a met from the melanoma, or from this current scourge, P.Ca. 

If its from the melanoma, Im not sure what happens then... its a bit like fighting a war on two major fronts.

If its from the Pr Cancer, then surgery is out of the question as the horse has already bolted, and specialist cannot see any point in removing the prostate under these circumstances.

will keep you informed.

 

Many guys on here have false positives from old fractures, arthritis, etc. The skull location is a bit unusual, and in my non professional opinion would be an odd place for a lone metastasis.

Best of luck to guys, and hopefully they will resolve this question quickly.