What would be your advice?

2 days ago, oddly enough, on my RARP 4 year anniversary, my 84 yr old dad calls to discuss his elevating psa rise to around 7. My dad is in Naples, Fla, which has 52 urologist and radiation oncologists per acre. It is a wealthy community full of retires from up north and they hold constant PC related seminars, all to swing business to whatever clinic or practice they own.

We discussed the fact that at his age, there was an 80% likelihood that any man would have some form of prostate cancer. He mentions no symptoms and is in otherwise excellent health. Plays golf a few times a week and probably still cheats!

His Uro is pressing him hard to do a biopsy after a Doppler MRI showed a 5mm lesion. He knows after my graphic story that the procedure is the least fun a guy can have.

I told him to cancel the appointment.

The logic being that this doc wants him to do radiation (odd for a Uro, huh?) that is part of his practice.

My pop understands full well that even an aggressive PC takes years to do damage and he is much more interested in QOL than attacking a disease that may or may not kill him in 15-20 years.

So. Have fun and live life or proceed with a biopsy and treatment that will likely have no impact on however many years he has left?

Thoughts?

Why is his doc still following his PSA?

The base problem is, how many years does he have left? No one can tell.

It's a tough call but I'm thinking skipped the radiation fun for now.

and at 84, you're allowed to cheat at golf. I think it's in the rule book...

Andrew

i'm not sure what he should do but even a surgeon probably is not going to recommend surgery for an 84-year-old.

ed

Ditto...Not to over simplify, but if he's feeling good and loving life @ 84...Let it be.

I have my chosen mom (aunt) who will be 87 next month.  She was so young, vibrant and active for her age...heck for my age @ 53=)  She kept the blonde highlighted hair, weekly french manicures, latest fashion diva. She donned her IPod and walked 4 miles every day, until...She decided she needed to lose weight (NO) and enrolled with a renowned plan.  She rapidly lost down to 129 lbs.  She starved her brain as well as her body in hopes of being "skinny" (her words).  Well, she got her wish with the weight loss.  She also lost her sharp mind, excellent health, energy, mobility and zest for life.  She is living what I fear are her last days in Clearwater, too frail to walk outside.

My intent is not to compare apples and oranges, or to be flippant about cancer...EVER.  I watched as doctors aggressively treated PC for both my dad and grand dad. (both 80+at diagnosis and seemingly quite healthy) They were (IMO) tortured absolutely to death.

There are many days for me, personally @ 53, that I would trade 1 good day pain free, for a lifetime of the pain that I endure, with no hope of repreive.

My point is...If you're 80+ and feeling good...Let it be.  You have been blessed. Enjoy=)

Hugs~~Dixie

I agree, at his age and with his present health being as good as it is, why chance messing up a good thing? Surprised they are still tracking his PSA at 84, what's the point? Perhaps if he were dx. with a G8-10, some effort should be made to prolong his life, though he's over his "3 score and 10" by 14 years at this point. I am only 62, and the quality of life card is already way more important to me than the other. Just my opinion.

I say, if he's ok with it, to continuing enjoying his good life. Your father has already outlived mine by 20 years. I still have my mother though, she hits 88 this October, a tough old bird for sure.

My goodness. I'd neglected to remember what remarkable and good people you all are.

Purg.Still I root for you every day.

I'm blessed to be able to observe from afar and have this disease now a distant recent memory.

I suspect my pop is lurking on the site and annoyed with me about comments by me relating to his golf ethics.

Just to add one more agreement with not choosing to further diagnose or intervene.

If his desire is to maximize his remaining quality of life, then there need be no further discussion, given a psa of 7 at age 84.

To repeat the cliche, may he live long and prosper.

The question is why is he still getting psa tests at 84? For that reason alone I would not trust his doctor to make good decisions in your Dad's interest. At that age only the rarest most aggressive forms of PC would impact his normal survival time and not by much. This is a prime example of why our medical costs are twice those of other industrial nations with no increase in overall survival times.

I wonder if your father has ever shot his age in a round of golf? That's one of my personal bucket list items. I haven't shot my own age (69), but I've shot his (84). So, if he hasn't done so, please tell him that I've dedicated my 84 to him.

In all seriousness, unless he's a George Burns type who's going to live to see the century mark, I would suggest he ignore all medical suggestions...or at least this one, and deal with it if it presents physical problems on down the line.