It's not good news

Thanks for your prayers, Kathy. I have been praying for your dad as well
Does your dad go to the shops by himself? I'd make sure he's careful with going places with those bone mets. I would not want him to fall as that would be devastating. You are right about them making him climb the stairs. What kind of ignorant idiots have they got working there?
I would think that they should give your dad at least some sort of hormone treatment. They may say his PSA is going up and the drug is not working but who knows how fast it would be going up if he wasn't taking it? Maybe it is working some. That's what the doctor did with my dad once when his PSA was going up.
As for me personally, I really haven't been thinking about my dad's PCa this weekend. I seem to be feeling a lot better now since having a high dose of medications. It's weird how that works but it does. My dad hasn't brought up the PCa lately either. He says he's not worried but I don't know. You know, I think all this time I've thought of PCa as the big bad wolf that is going to take my dad away from me, as if he wouldn't eventually die from something anyway, be it prostate cancer or something else. Realistically I knew that but I didn't want to accept that. Lately I've learned to accept that more, and that makes me appreciate more the time I have.

I am glad to hear he's not in any pain. That makes a world of difference. Can he walk around?

I must ask whether you and your folks, especially dad of course, (Rule #6 violation deleted) slowly and carefully as the best summary reference I can think of at the moment. Praying for you!!!

Post Edited By Moderator (Tudpock18) : 4/25/2018 2:52:49 PM (GMT-6)

Amen to that Nkinney...not sure where to begin...and of course we will be wrong and she will feel joyously persecuted...hence re enforcing her "faith"...too much.... but then if we all recommend books...why should not giraffe...??? sticky wicket...again it gets to pretending...pretension is the glue of civilization...I don't know the answer...and perhaps I am not posed to...but as mulder and scully say..."the truth is out there"..... now prosyltizin would be if giraffe responded...yes logo you are right and I definitively without a doubt...know what that truth is and every one will perish in hell if they do not agree with me....Er..ah...giraffe?...are you there???...omg irony would be...if I was cast as not supporting giraffe...funny/strange...but...

celebrate life said...
Hi Kathy,
I am really happy to hear that you are going to chat with another oncologist. Especially after the stairs incident. That wouldn't happen here because they would be sued.
I have a question and a couple of suggestions:
Was your Dad taken off all hormone therapy or is he still on lupron or something similar?
I agree about the prolia or xgeva. Even though Gary did develop jaw necrosis, the benefits outweighed the damage. Simply because as he weakened he fell a few times (once as he was walking out of the oncologist office!), and he never broke a bone. You mentioned your dad still wants to do stuff and his legs are weaker.
Also, there is a drug called venlefaxen, which helps with depression and hot flashes. You might want to ask about that.
I asked about the hormone therapy, because if he was taken off that I would imagine his bone mets would worsen quickly. Sorry if you had already answered that question and I missed it.
Good job on remembering to care for yourself too! How is your mum holding up?
Beth

Hi Beth the stairs incident was at his general doctor’s surgery not at the hospital. I called them to ensure it wouldn’t happen again, I kept it polite. The oncologist we are going to see is apparently one of the ‘top ten’ guys to see in the UK... my father isn’t actually attending... my mum and I are going just to see what’s what. We don’t want to put Dad through the whole ‘nothing else we can do’ so we are going along armed with hospital records, asking for advice and then taking it from there. I have many questions! If there’s anything that can be done.. rest assured I’ll be taking Dad immediately. Locating hospital records has been a bit of a nightmare but nearly there now I think.

Dad still has the hormone injections, zoladex, every 3 months. He’s just had one this week actually. Will be asking about all that you have mentioned. I can’t quite put in to words how much I admire him, he continues to amaze me every day. As you’ve been through this you know very well how emotionally exhausting it is for all involved, when he’s having a bad day I just try and keep him smiling, help him focus on other things...I think I may have got him interested in meditating.... albeit listening to a guided meditation but I think it will help with anxiety/depression.

Thanks for your message ... I will keep you updated x

With regard to book suggestions... open to all that will help on this difficult journey. My parents attend church and take comfort from that, Dad hasn’t been able to get to church as often as he likes but his faith helps.

There’s no right or wrong... people have different ideas/beliefs and I’m a firm believer in doing what makes you feel good whatever that may be.

X

Again Kathy you are a doll...and I love flirtations with " heresies " shhh...not a peep...they never sleep...ya know!!..tho...like a sore...they weep...