My dad lost his PC battle this week

Hello. I've lurked just about daily and occasionally posted on this forum for a few years now and have used much of the information to talk to dads doctors about and share with my dad, especially success with treatments to give him hope. My dad discovered he had PC in 1995 and had it removed shortly after. It came back a few years ago and after exhausting most all options, we almost lost him last november, when he finally decided to try Chemo. Because of his age and worry about Chemo, the doctor gave him about 1/3 dose of Taxotere every 3 weeks and his PSA went from 250 to 10 in a matter of a few months and his Alkaline Phosphatase dropped to low normal and stayed there until about a month ago. We thought the low alkaline phosphatase number was from Provenge, which he received just before chemo. He didn't have many side effects from Chemo for many months and we were able to take a family vacation to Myrtle Beach in March. Long story short, we got another 9 months out of him from Chemotherapy and it would have lasted even longer if his body could have taken more, but he's about 80 and he wanted to stop treatments. He never went chemo resistant which is the point i wanted to make, because i've ready many people say "maybe your cancer will be the kind very responsive to chemo" and I always thought it was just wishful thinking, but we experienced it. I'm hoping this gives people hope when it comes to Chemo. Also with Chemo, the steroids he received with it..decadron.. really helped him. The day after his first chemo infusion he drove and went shopping and said he felt like a "new man", this after we didn't think he had any more good days left, and it kept getting better and better. Once he decided not to have treatment any longer, he passed 2 months last, earlier this week. I went to every appointment with him and spent as much time as I could. Thanks to everyone who posts here for sharing your life and stories and advice, it really means a lot. God Bless
Matt Fisher, son of Vaughn Fisher

Sorry for your loss. Very touching story of how he managed with his PCa. Thanks for bringing him (and you) into our hearts.

Gedman

Matt,

I'm so sorry to hear of your Dad's passing.  May he rest in peace, and may you find comfort in remembering what an outstanding father/son relationship the two of your shared.  I have that kind of relationship with my own son and daughter, and that's something that any father would treasure.

Condolences on your loss. It is never easy to loss a loved one.

May he live on in your memories.
Peace,
Andrew

Matt, so sorry for the loss of your father. And thank you for unselfishly sharing his story, so that others may benefit. That is so true about chemo and other drugs, you never know whether you will be in that long tail of the survival curve for a particular medication. Glad your dad got this benefit without too many side effects.

You are a great son, have a lot to be proud of.

Matt, Very sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad. As others have said, he sounds like a man who fought hard and was in control. Sounds like he had a great son too.
Mike

Matt, I am so sorry for the loss of your dad...please accept my condolences. The info you shared about his treatments is very helpful and I'm really glad you took the time to do that.

God bless you,

Jim

Matt, I too will express my sincere condolences on the loss of your father. I am impressed by the manner in which he dealt with the beast = as well as the manner in which you supported him, and walked hand in hand with him over these years.

Thank you also for taking the time to relate his journey, for that too will provide a valuable "Pay Forward" for those that will find themselves following a similar path.

God Bless.

Condolences on the loss of your dad, but your post was very well written and indeed makes some very good points that will be helpful to others. Thanks for sharing.

Matt:

   May your father rest in peace ... and I'm sure he knows how lucky he was to have a son so caring. My father has been gone for 18-years now, and no matter how this sounds, a smile comes on my face everytime I see "The Rifleman". We watched it together - when I was a kid. Hope, in time, great memories of the past with him come to you. The love never dies.

Rob

 

RIP

Matt,
You brought strength to your dad by being with him at all his doctor's appointments, and remembering the good days that he had from his treatments. It is heart breaking to watch cancer take the life of a parent, and God bless your dad, you, and your family.