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advanced prostate cancer

clark27
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Hi,

 

I am new to the chat and just hoped that i could speak to someone going through the same and find out more information.

My Dad has recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes and surrounding area. We are all just in so much shock, Dad is 73 and is a very fit person, he had been complaining on constipation for over the last year and was mainly fobbed off bu his GP. Finally one of the GPs took bloods and his PSA levels had increased from 4.8 to 17 in the space of 6 months. He was sent for a MRI scan which picked up tumour on the Prostate. 4 weeks on and Dad has had various CT scans, biopies and the final outcome is Stage 4 adavanced cancer that has speead to the lymph nodes. Dad started hormone injections that day. We were told this freezes all his cancer, they are also hoping for Dad to have 4 weeks of Radiation Beam Theraphy to reduce the size of the tumour as it is causing problems with his bowels and causing pain where it it pressing. Can anybody tell me what cancer in the lymph nodes actually means. We as a family are all just so emotional at the moment, its like a rollercoast of emotions. We are still in shock. Ive tried reading things on the internet but it just upsets you and can be very confussing. It would just be nice to talk to someone ging through the same experience. Cancer is the deadly word and immediatley you think thats, i know Dads cancer can never be cured as it is passed that stage but i am hoping with treatment that, they can reduce the pain Dad has and also make the rest of his life managable and comfortable. im hoping once Dad has had the radiation that we all feel more realxed and can concentate on enjoying what time we have left and making lots more memories.  thank you for listening

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    Hi clark27.

    Hopefully I'll explain things OK, I'm just a cancer patient not medicaly trained. 

    Lymph nodes are all over the torso start around the neck, go out to the arms down the torso to the pelvis. They are actually a cleaning system inside the body the lymph nodes absorb any germs and distroy them (in theory anyway).

    Just thinking how to write this. 

    I've got prostate Cancer that's gone to lymph nodes, spine, ribs, pelvis and a lung was diagnosed Feb 2016 stage 4 gleason 8 psa 1581, i was 64 when diagnosed, classed as palliative care, living with my uninvited guest.

    Went straight onto hormone therapy and had some chemotherapy. Not sure what else to say. If you have any questions ask away. 

    I was living normal life working, had to retire to look after my disabled wife she needs 24, /7 care she has Alzheimers and parkinsons she's also has other problems.

     

    Billy 

    P.s there are a few people who have same problem to your father on the forum now hopefully they will notice your string and join in. 

     

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    Hello Clark27,

                          l am sorry to read of your Dads diagnosis,it arrives like a sledgehammer blow that you can never be prepared for.

                                          Lymph nodes are spread throughout the body and interconnect organs.Cancer spread to other organs use the lymphatic system to spread.Stage 4 diagnosis indicates that spread to neighbouring lymph nodes has occured from the primary tumour site.This does not mean spread has taken place,but that the potential for it to do so has been created.

                                                                                                          Hopefully treatment wil stop this process from continuing,his care team will closely monitor for any outward spread,and that it helps with his pain issues.

                                l am no expert just a survivor from spread from colon to liver,and just hope your Dad is fortunate enough to join those of us that make it through,

                                                                                                      David

  • Offline in reply to gruntifen
    Hi David, Thank you for your reply. Its good to talk to people who are going through the same kind of thing. There is only so much the nurses and doctors can tell you, all cases are different depending on how the cancer has spread. The cancer has not spread into his bones, which is a positive. I think we just all need to get our heads around it all and try to come to terms with it all. thank you and take care
  • Offline in reply to Billygoatt

    Nice to here from a survivor, it gives you hope.

    I understand a bit more about it being in the lymph nodes, when the doctors tell you things they just go straight over your head.

    Dad cancer has not spread to the bones which is a positive.

    I am hoping in time my strange emotions will all calm down. 

    Treatment has come on some much in the last few years, they can treat it , need to focus on the positives.

    thank you and take care.

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