Hi all, don't know if l'm allowed to chat here as it's my Dad that has cancer and not myself. l'm just reaching out for hints and tips (and reassurance l guess) to help Dad through his journey.
Hello ChelleV1 you are very welcome to the forum, though sorry you have to be here and that your dad has prostate cancer. I also have prostate cancer PCa, and am a dad, Chelle as you have given so little information i can't be specific. If you are ok to share your dads stats "gleason score, TNM staging and PSA number" and where he is with treatment and any side effects, it would really help. Anyway first thing to know 98% of men who get PCa will not die of it. and it is quite common to have no symptoms until treatment starts, it's good to carry on as normal, and for your dad to get fit before treatment begins, this will help him through treatment. As a dad I'm pretty sure your dad will not want to upset you so may not tell you everything, PCa can cause bladder issues, but be patient and if you can let dad initiate talking about cancer. Take care.
Thanks so much for your reply. I'm sorry to hear that you too have prostate cancer. What a way to meet people! I'm not too sure of Dad's stats but l will tell you what l know. Dad was diagnosed in Jan of this year, he is undergoing hormone injections at the moment, his second injection is due in May. He has had scans and luckily the cancer is contained within his prostate. I noticed his skin has changed to a yellow colour and he has a cough, so l arranged an appointment for him at the doctors. Long story short his chest is clear and he has some blood tests arranged for a couple of weeks time. OMG how he tore a strip off me for taking him to the doctors, but he looked releived after he'd chatted to the doctor. Good job l'm a strong character who has always had a great relationship with my Dad, we have always said it like it is to each other, so I'm carrying this forward through this journey with Dad. Thanks for your reassurance and kind words. Hope that you are feeling as well as you can and that you are in a good place. I know its hard for Dad's to stop being the protector and to keep things from us kids! My Dad is 71 so both me and my brother are grown up so hopefully he will open up more to us. Love and best wishes to you, Chelle xx
Hi Chelle, Well done in taking your dad to the doctors, us guys can be our own worst enemy's at times, but we always want to protect our kids from anything bad, Diagnosed January and had two scans, is he waiting, or had a prostate biopsy?, everyone has one, this will tell the consultant all about the cancer and what treatment he will get later. I am assuming he took a 4 week course of tablets initially before his first hormone therapy, HT, injection in February which as you know will be every three months, usually for 12 to 24 months, these are to stop the cancer growing and shrink the prostate, they work by stopping the production of testosterone which is what the tumour needs to feed on to grow, and without testosterone your dad is likely to get emotional and tearful, though most of us who did really liked it, so don't be surprised if your dad starts crying he's fine, and he will open up as well. Great new the PCa has not broken the shell, this means when it comes to removing the cancer, probably around July whether by radiotherapy or surgery it will be done with the intent to cure Ask your dad about the biopsy, the results, "TNM staging", are very important. Thank you i am doing ok, 2 years on from diagnosis, all treatments finish soon, If I can help in any way just ask, take care.
Glad to hear you're doing well and that your treatment is almost done. Dad has had a biopsy and has the treatment so far that you discribed! Not too sure of the TNM staging. You have reassured me with what you have said about the course of this is to cure the cancer, its more meaningful when it comes from someone that has personal experience of it! You take care now Eddie, it's great to know you l can ask you any questions thst may crop up along the way! Love and best wishes, Chelle xx
Happy to help Chelle, one little word of advice, It's normal to want to research your dads illness, but stick with trusted sites like CRUK, Prostate cancer uk and Macmillan, and not google as it always leads to the very worst that may happen, take care, both of you,
