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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 7/1/2015 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
My Dad has been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer stage 4 metastasized in one area on the hip bone that is less than 1 centimeter. His Gleason score was a 8 3+5 on one biopsy and the rest were 7's. His psa last tested at 28. He is a healthy active 64 year old.
My parents are telling me the doctor at UCLA said that there is a small possibility of them being able to cure him. The doctor also said that my Dad had several years ahead of him.
The plan is for hormone treatment, radiation of the prostate and hip bone. My Dad has also done some research on the advantages of doing chemo in the beginning at the same time as the hormone treatment. He going to request that they add that to the treatment. We will know tomorrow if the medical oncologist goes for it.
My Mom told my son today that his Grandad was sick but was going to take some medicine and be fine. I have been doing a lot of online research and have discovered a more negative view on his situation.
If my Dad does get cured it would be a miracle worthy of a professional journal from what I have researched.
Please tell me I'm the one who is wrong. I want my Dad to be the miracle. The one in a million!!! Who are these people the small precent that make it 10 years?
Does my Dad have a reasonable chance of surviving? My heart is broken but I want to know the truth.
Posted 7/1/2015 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi JD,
Very sorry to hear about your Dad's diagnosis but glad you have found this site. There are some very knowledgeable guys and gals on this site that can provide you with more insight than I can. A cure is always what we hope to achieve and it should be no different for your Dad. Don't the the gleason score or the PSA scare you but use it to learn what your Dad's options are. Even though his PSA is high, it is not the highest, and, there are many guys here who have lived many years with mets to the bone.

I agree that an aggressive approach will likely be what you are looking for with a combination of Hormone Therapy, Radiation and Chemotherapy. Best wishes to you in your new journey with you Dad. I wish you and he the very best.
Posted 7/1/2015 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
There is a possibility that your dad will be here in ten years. We have men on this forum who've had worse stats and are still going after 5,7, 8 years +. There are so many treatment options that it's not unreasonable to assume that they can keep the PC at bay for a very long time.

The treatment plan you noted has a very good probability of working to reduce the PSA to a very low level for a very long time. It won't be fun for him and it will change him, but he'll be alive for many more years.

Error on the side of hope. There is plenty for your father.
Andrew
Posted 7/1/2015 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi JD,
I know that you are struggling with your Dad's dx, but you have found good place to get the best and most current information. Your Dad is being proactive and hopefully he can tolerate multiple tx with minimal SEs. There are new options being tested every day for future treatment options, and the current treatments have the probability of keeping your Dad around with a good qol for many years, even without a miracle cure. My husband Gary had a much worse dx, and he is still fighting after 4 and a half years. You can read his stats in the signature. Wishing you and grandpa the best. How old is your son?
Beth
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