Dad just diagnosed with prostate cancer

My dad just told me down the phone that he's been diagnosed with early prsotate cancer. I'm at university over a 100 miles away so I feel like I have no idea what is going on, but he's very much a stiff upper lip kind of man so he kind of brushed it off. I'm so scared that I'm so far away and distant from what's going on. He said he's only being monitored and I can't understand why he's just letting it sit there and doing nothing about it?

Thanks

  • Hi Lozz99,

    Your dad is probably on what is called active servailance.There are some cancers that are very agressive while others are very slow growing. It sounds like your dad has the latter. He will be monitered on a regular basis to check on the cancer. It is often said about this type of slow growing cancer, "It's something you will die with, rather than from". It is often the case where active survelance is better than having treatments, for most treatments have some side effects as I know from personal experiance.

    I know it must be very worrying for you especially as you are not at home but treatment for prostate cancer has come a long way in the past few years. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years ago and had a very high PSA. After radiotherapy treatment combined with hormone treatment my PSA was only just measurable. So the treatment was for me very effective Several years later I still have six monthly check ups and my psa is still very low so I hope this will reasure you.. 

    Wishing you and your dad all the best, Brian.