What es the prescribing of morphine suggest?

My father in law was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer about 18 months ago. Outwardly to myself and my partner he seems fine, a little stiff and often complaining about pain but very few physical changes. However just today the "pain nurse" (?) has been to see him and has now recommended two doses a day of morphine. He is the sort of person who will always tell you that they feel fine, regardless of how much pain he is in so we know very little of his true situation. Treatment wise he is now being offered very little except he is currently having some scans to see if he can be accepted for a clinical trial of a new treatment. Has anyone else had experience of the morphine dose being upped? And if so, what does this signify? Any help would be greatly appreciated by myself and my partner. 

  • Hi what treatment has your father in law had I'm a bit puzzled mine was stage 4 over 3 years ago. I know it depends on the psa and gleason my psa was 1500 and gleason 8 I'm on permanent hormone therapy and cemotheropy when needed my psa now is 0.8 I feel fine. Best wishes with what ever treatment he has.

    Billy

    P.s morphine is mainly a strong painkiller. 

  • Thank you for replying. That's the trickiest thing really: my partner does not get much information about levels or anything from her parents, perhaps because they are trying to protect her? So I can't compare his levels to anything else because we don't know them, but I do know that he's not getting any what you might call preventative treatment anymore, like the chemo or hormone therapy you mention.  Regardless of all that, I'm glad you are feeling fine and wish you the very best of luck with the future. 

  • Hi me again did he have any treatment at the beginning once C was found it seems strange his current condition. 

    Billy 

  • He had chemo and hormone therapy early on but they both stopped and not because he was given the all clear or anything. I guessed they stopped it because they knew it wouldn't work and so they didn't want to keep spending money on expensive resources for no result. 

  • Hi I'm very sorry to hear that. I'd have thought they would have tried something else it's a shame you don't know exactly were the C Has gone to as I said I'm very sorry. Best wishes. 

    Billy