cancer has spread to bones

Hello Summerblue,

I am so sorry about your husband's diagnosis. There are folks here that have had and are having all kinds of treatments and we will pitch in to help you in any way we can. Please stay with us for support, we need you...

Jim

Hi ~   Summerblue….   So many things in your posting have a positive twist to it….. and I’m sure you don’t see it right now…   Be optimistic….   Be hopeful and confident that the hormone therapy works…. Move in that positive direction.   As you’ve stated he’s young, he’s healthy, looks good, and they “caught” it now!!!!     Take One~Day~At~A~Time and know that we “all” feel your fear.       Yes ~ there is no magic answer as to how long any of us have ~ but you and your honey can move forward doing whatever it takes!!!!   Remember… you must keep up your strength so you can both pull from each other as the “dark” clouds will surely try to cover your light…..    We are all here to help move them away….   We send this special rainbow filled with sunshine with hopes that it will add strength to each of you…..   * T his is your very own R ainbow and it’s sprinkled with S unshine * * ////////////////////// //////////////////////////// /////////////// /////////////////////////// * ////////// /////////////////////////// ///// //////////////////////// ///////////////////// ///////////// ///////// ///////////////////// ///////////// ////////// * ////////// *     Continue to post here Summerblue…. Pull from “all of our” strengths and feel the prayers surrounding you.   Keeping you “extra” close in our thoughts and prayers… In New Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy

Hi Summerblue!

So sorry to hear your startling news! You now have a large group of cancer survivors and their families (from this forum) praying for you on a daily basis.

It is so important that you and hubby think very positively at this time. Mind over matter type of thing. Everytime he has a treatment (when that's decided) he can visualize all those cancer cells flowing from his body. HE CAN BEAT THIS!!!

Please keep us posted! We care what happens! And when you only feel like venting, tell us that too! We are here for you!

;o) Linda & Bob

PS - The reference in our signature line to Bob's blood conditions were found when he was 58 and healthy. He was told the bone marrow portion had no treatment or cure and he had anywhere from 5 to 30 years, depending upon what the marrow decides to do. . . . .we chose 30 and are getting on with life!

Hi everyone.  Thank you all so much for your concern and responses to my post.  I am still having a hard time wrapping my mind around all this.

  My husband went yesterday for his first appointment at a cancer hospital here.  He was told again that with treatment he may have 2-3 years, but I asked what if he did not take anything and they gave the same prognoasis, which I am confused about.  Of course, I want him to take what treatment they offer, but I am scared. 

 He was given a prescription for Casodex, which he took yesterday and needs to take 1 a day, Thursday he is going back for another psa test, I am not sure what else at this moment.  He said that he may be able to enter into a test that along with the hormone therapy they will give chemotherapy, but I am not sure about this.  His doctors said this is a test that is being studied nation wide and he has yet to find out if he is eligable. 

 They also said that the cancer is in his spine and he should not lift anything heavier than 25 pounds and told him he should not have shoveled the snow the other day, but he feels fine and we are surprised at this as they said he could fracture his spine.  They also think he should have radiation on the spine, but that remains to be seen. 

 He  said the doctors kept asking him if he was in pain and were surprised to hear he feels well other then a slight pain in his back.  This scares me as it makes me think he should be in more pain then he is and they wonder why at this stage of his cancer he is still feeling well, am I making sense here?

Well I could go on and on as I am just scared out of my mind, I know he is scared too, I am trying to be positive, but it is really hard sometimes, but I do thank you all here for your input.  Please take care all. 

First of all...I am so very sorry Summerblue. You have come to a good place for a little support.

Please, please, don't take this the worng way. I have to ask a question or at least get you to ask youself one. Why would treatment that has no chance of extending a man's life be a good choice? Wouldn't quality of life be a reasonable choice to make also? Radiation is a not a cure but it can help with pain and slow some progression. Certainly he should keep it on a burner to keep the thought warm in case. It really is all about how hubby wishes his life to be right now. We sometimes do the most for a loved one by just being present and loving them blindly.

God Bless and knwo our prayers are with you both.

Vickie

Dear Summerblue

I was deeply saddened to read the news about your husband's diagnosis. It is something that no one should ever have to face in life. I just hope that you and your husband have consulted with one of the top medical oncologists specializing in prostate cancer. This is so important, especially if chemotherapy is a possibility. Everyday there is new hope in battling this dreaded disease, even in the later stages. It is in your best interest to get 2nd and even 3rd opinions from experts.

I don't know where you live, but here is a link to some of the top PC medical oncologists:

http://www.prostate-cancer.org/resource/special.html#med_oncology

I am sure that this list is not all inclusive and that there are many other well qualified medical oncologists specializing in PC.

Just don't give up hope. Research all of your options and don't leave any stone unturned. God Bless!

Dave

P.S. I just want to clarify something that Swimom said above (i.e., that radiation is not a cure). Radiation can be a cure for PC if caught in the earlier stages. It is most likely not a cure for your husband because of his later stage PC which has started to metastasize in his bones. However, radiation can be used to relieve pain in the later stages of PC caused by the metastases in the bones (which I believe is the point Swimom was making).

Dearest Summerblue,
My heart is with you in this. No one should ever have to indure what you are going through. You are traveling in the place that gives the rest of us nightmares and although we are not in your shoes, we definitely feel your fear with you. I am so glad you found us. You need to be able to talk to someone in an attempt to stay sane and it helps so much if that someone is a whole group of people who know and understand what you are going through. The path before you is a very hard one and everything you new to be "normal" is no longer. You will now have to adjust to a new "normal". Some how you will have to find the small positives (as mama bluebird said) and if you can't we will do our best to help you. Your husband will need your strength so please stay with us and let us be here for you to lean on.

You and your husband will be in my prayers.

Hi Summerblue,
My prayers are with you as well. It is heart wrenching to hear someone is stricken with this disease. But you should not take too much time in dispair but rather continue to get additional information. 2 to three years is a long time in cancer research. In addition, while radiation at this point can't cure the disease, it CAN slow it down. Many of us here went to additional doctors and top notch cancers centers. I do recommend a trip to Johns Hopkins, MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic, or City of Hope. There may be a trial or experimental that can be considered as well. Don't give up. I know someone who was told to get their things in order as 6 months was unlikely. His spread was bones, liver and lungs. After an experimental treatment at the Nevada Cancer Institute, he is alive and well almost three years later and is showing no detectable disease. This is a true story of hope and courage that I would wish upon your husband. God Bless and Good Luck. Stay close to us and we'll be here to support you.

Tony
Stage III, original PSA19.7, Gleason 4+3=7, T3b
PSA 0.1 and dropping (testing again tomorrow)

Hi Summerblue,

I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's situation.
I saved this post a while back because I thought it was so inspiring and gave so much hope. I'm also posting a link that might prove helpful. I think we should try all medical resources available, but if diet, vitamins etc. can make a difference, it might be worth a try.


Bec


Here's the link:


http://www.cancerfightingstrategies.com

Here's the post from several months ago:

I am a P/C survivor, so far. PSA of 250 in 1989; diagnosis was "terminal and untreatable" with multiple bone mets. Prognosis death in 6 months. Since there was nothing here permitted by the FDA and my father had died of P/C after relying on Mexican remedies, I went to Europe. It's a long story but to cut to the chase there is a lot of information and cutting edge therapies available today in the USA but not all of it available through conventional MDs who are stuck on "cut, burn and poison" (surgery, radiation and chemo) and some only through being a guinea pig in a Trial. I have survived 5 trials, two in Germany and three in the U.S. Hear this: ALL cancer victims are seriously D deficient. It is called vitamin D but in reality it is a hormone with many applications in your body. It comes to you naturally, from sunlight (UV)on your exposed skin. This is why there is much more P/C in northern hemisphere countries and among our black brothers; not enough sun exposure. I currently take (by prescription) 50,000 international units of "vitamin" D3 every morning. That's right, fifty thousand. It fits in one small, white capsule. Also, I take 15 grams per day of vitamin C, orally, and once a week a bolus of vitamin C intravenously. I spread out the oral C during the day, 1000 or 2000 milligrams at a time to keep the plasma level high enough to be lethal to the remaining tumour cells. I do all the other non-controversial therapeutic things such as lots of fish oil for Omega 3, 8 oz. per day of pomegranate juice (as an anti inflamataory; P/C is very inflammatory), lots of fresh vegetables, raw if you can, fresh fruit, some fish but no red meat, and it's great that your Dad exercises, encourage him to keep it up. I am 77 and work 6 days a week. I live near mountains and hike every chance I get. One more point, it is now a proven fact that STRESS HORMONES exaccerbate any form of cancer. Besides a loving family I keep my stress level under control with lots of prayer. Whether you are a Christian or not, it is a historical fact that Jesus was the greatest healer that ever walked the face of the earth; your Dad couldn't find better company in his walk for life. Good Luck. The Gunner

husband Jeff 45 years old, diagnosed 8/25/06
PSA 2.1, 2 of 12 samples at 3% & 4%, involving 1 side of prostate
Gleason 3+3=6 in both samples
laparoscopic radical prost. 10/17/06
cancer in both sides of prostate, positive in one area of margin
first PSA results 1/07 <0.01%

hi Summerblue, as you can see from these posts, there is hope that your husband will live for many years. My father-in-law was diagnosed with bone cancer about 15 years after he had RRP, but he never had pain, never had any symptoms. his PSA was in the 400s. he died at the age of 82 peacefully in his chair at home. I wish there was a magic answer for you, but I know that you'll find the right thing to do. hang in there....step back once in a while and do something else in life instead of researching PCa cures. take care of yourself, too. God bless, kat