Hello, I'm new here!

kidclutch

My dad (age 59) was just diagnosed with hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer. His bone scan was today, so we don't have results yet, but a lesion on his hip was discovered after his L3 vertebrae fractured about two weeks ago. Surgery repaired the vertebrae, and aside from some stiffness, it has healed up with no other issues.

He'd had two biopsies done prior to this issue after having a slightly elevated PSA of 6-7, but they came back clear, so he was treated for prostatitis. Antibiotics were seemingly working. A routine check up / bloodwork showed a PSA of 60--called urologist, said they'd do a new biopsy, but the vertebrae gave out before that was possible, leading to ER imaging (CT, ultrasound, MRI) that discovered the hip lesion / bone biopsy which confirmed cancer.

He's just started Casodex and will be receiving Lupron injections starting in a few weeks, with the second scheduled three months later. We have no "official" Gleason score yet, but urologist guessed 8-10 (which I'm sure is correct, as it seems to be pretty aggressive). 

My mom is already planning a change to their diet (though they eat very well, my father has no other health issues, either!), he's not a smoker or a drinker (except for a beer now and then). Healthy blood pressure, no spread to lymph nodes or vital organs. We aren't big on exercise as a family, but I'm positive he will take up whatever he needs to if it will help! He's not really experiencing any pain issues thankfully, and while he and the rest of us are certainly upset and tired, I wanted to join this forum because I thought hearing stories from actual people would be far more helpful and useful than reading scary medical studies on the internet!

If anyone has any helpful tips or success stories to share with me about this journey, I would greatly appreciate it.

hopeful and optimistic

I'm sorry for the situation

I'm sorry for the situation that your father is in.

I suggest that your father find the very best medical oncologist that he can find to lead his medical team. The medical oncologist is by far the best doctor to administer the sequence of drugs that may  be required for an aggressive prostate cancer.

Since there is an increased risk for family members to be diagnosed with prostate and breast cancers, you need to inform your relatives of this situation.

Get a PSA and digital rectal exam if you are a son, and a mamagram if you are a woman. In both cases eat heart healthy since heart healthy is cancer healthy.

The right thing to do is inform brothers, sisters, aunts uncles, even cousins.

 

Clevelandguy

Lots of homework to do

Hi,

Sorry for your situation, I agree with hopeful, need to rally the doctors and start treating the escaped cancer plus your Dad's prostate.  From your intro it sounds like he still has his prostate which has cancer.  Find the best doctors & facilities that you can afford and start planning a path to knock down your Dad's cancer.  Sounds like testosterone lowering drugs and radiation might be a good path to follow.  Good luck..................

Dave 3+4

kidclutch

Clevelandguy said:

Lots of homework to do

Hi,

Sorry for your situation, I agree with hopeful, need to rally the doctors and start treating the escaped cancer plus your Dad's prostate.  From your intro it sounds like he still has his prostate which has cancer.  Find the best doctors & facilities that you can afford and start planning a path to knock down your Dad's cancer.  Sounds like testosterone lowering drugs and radiation might be a good path to follow.  Good luck..................

Dave 3+4

Thanks for your replies!

Thanks for your replies!

My oldest sister battled aggressive breast cancer (diagnosed at age 34) and won, so it is unfortunately not our first rodeo and we know all about the increased risk with the family. We are new to prostate cancer, however. Any lifestyle tips from guys who have had to deal with hormone therapy? Sister's cancer was not hormone sensitive, so she went directly to surgery and chemo.