My Dad has advanced prostate cancer, metastatized to bone

Hello, 

I've come here because I'm not sure where else to go. I've just found out in the past week that my Dad has prostate cancer, which has metasised to his pubic bone. His PSA levels were extrremely high, 164, and his Gleason score is 10. He's 72, but you wouldn't think it. He is so fit and healthy and he only went to the doctors in the first place because he had a pain in his leg, which we now know is because it spread to his bone. I am an only child, I'm 26, I live near my parents and have been staying over since we find out. 

My Dad is mostly postive, he has started his hormone therapy and in July he will have 6 rounds of chemo. They can manage but they can't cure. They said it's really agressive cancer, but they can keep him going, but for how long? I can't bear to watch my Dad go through this pain, he's the kindest, sweetest most generous man. And my Mum, my Dad is my mums world, she just keeps asking me "how are we going to cope" - she's imagining herself all alone in this home they built together, and to be honest, so am I. I am trying to be strong and resume normality but this has changed everything. I thought my Dad would live to see me get married, go far in my career. I want him to be there, to watch me grow. I don't want him to leave Mum all alone. I don't have any siblings to share this with - my friends are supportive and my boyfriend too but, I just feel so hopeless. Would be reassured to hear of anyone else in the same boat.

Thank you

Parents Reply Children
  • That's good news David73, fingers crossed it keeps going well for you. Good to see there are positive stories to give us all that bit of extra hope!

    I seem to have a similar story to many others on here - Dad diagnosed around the height of the Covid lockdowns when his usual routine suddenly stopped. He was fit and healthy in his late 70's until the dreaded C diagnosis. Other than the treatment days, he gets little to no support and sadly I'm a 2 hour drive away and struggle to be there for him regularly.

    Metastised from prostate to bone in the legs and a now a tumour at the base of his spine. He's been having regular hormone injections (now doing his own at home), chemo and needs to go for radiotherapy on the spine tumour in a couple of weeks. He tries to keep positive, but has good days and bad as you'd expect.

    The worst part for me is not knowing. I don't know whether my dad has been given a proper prognosis or if it's bad news and he isn't telling me. I just get snippets of info on the odd occasion I can get him to talk about it. I guess its his cancer though, so I need to respect his wishes if thats the case.

    Darren.