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Pain management and life expectancy stage 4 mestasized to bones
my husband is 64 years old and was diagnosed stage 4 metastsized to bones 4 years ago. He has done good until now. His PSA went up to 22 and pet scan shows cancer "all over his body" per oncologists ". He has had pain in right hip the entire time but now pain in back, leg and foot on right side as well as in pelvic area. Also, the oncologists found a place in in the roof of his mouth. He has scheduled radiation for pain and possible more chemo. Up to this time my husband has not taken any pain meds except for gabapentin.
Since he has done so well with his prior treatments, hormone, orgovyox, pluvetco, radiation, chemo.........I was floored when Dr. told us today" he had bought my husband 2 good years" I couldnt ask him any questions and of course my husband couldnt speak at all. the Dr. also kept emphasizing the pain that my husband was going to go thru.
Now here I sit with a million questions and an utter sense of helplessness. Please someone tell me what we are facing. I can't stand to think that he is going to suffer terribly.
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Has your husband had Pluvicto? Sometimes that will work when chemo won’t. If you’re willing to leave the country and have him treated, you could get actinium, which can work for some people.
Have they tried chemo with carboplatin? That is a treatment for more advanced cases, and he should at least be given that treatment to see if it will help.
My father died of prostate cancer at 88. When I was a teenager, he had his teeth ground down and crowned without Novacaine, his Pain tolerance was that high. He would come home for dinner after seeing the dentist and we never knew how difficult it was.
The last few weeks before he died, he was on so much morphine, he really couldn’t really communicate.
It can be very difficult.
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3 ReactionsI am so sorry to hear that, my heart goes out to you : (((. I am also a wife of PC patient and our fight started last year so I am not very versed with last stages but just want to send you my love and understanding and I wish I know more or could be of more help.
Could you tell us where are you treated at present time ? Maybe different group of doctors would have some more creative ideas and have some new ways to slow down your husband's cancer : ((( .
I also want to say that in recent years pain management for cancer patients advanced a lot and there are different ways to approach it depending of where cancer causes the most pain. I did some Googling and it seams that localized radiation is used to reduce tumor burden in bones and nerve blocks if tumors are pressing on some nerves. The rest of the pain is managed with opioids. It would be the best if you could find good center for palliative care
that would work with your oncologist and coordinate future care.
I am so sorry dear @debbie02 😔, I can only imagine the shock and anguish that you are both enduring today and I wish I can say or do something to help. I am sending you both hugs and will hold you in my thoughts and prayers 💗.
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4 ReactionsI am so sorry about this new development.
You mentioned that your husband's treatments over the past 4 years have included hormone, Orgovyx, Pluvicto, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Was the hormone treatment an ARSI like Zytiga (Abiraterone), Xtandi (Enzalutamide), Erleada (Apalutamide), or Nubeqa (Darolutamide)? If so, has his oncologist suggested trying a different one? Sometimes one of the "lutamides" will help when Abiraterone and the other lutamides don't.
I'm hoping for the best for both of you. ❤️ I'm 61, and have also had bone-metastatic prostate cancer for over 4 years, but I've been lucky so far that radiation + Orgovyx + Erleada (Apalutamide) have been able to hold it in check.
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3 Reactions@surftohealth88 thank you so much for the kind words. Through the entire 4 years of treatment he did great and even continued to work. 2 weeks ago he was hurting in his pelvic area and hip, had a pet scan and today being told it’s in your entire body was such a shock! He still thinks he will be going back to work on Monday. I don’t know if he is in denial or just that stubborn. I have to admit he had me convinced he was going to beat cancer until the last few weeks and realized the worst is about to happen. I am a wreck! I don’t know what to do how to plan and most of all how to be supportive for him.
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1 Reaction@northoftheborderthank you for your response. My husband was stage 4 when diagnosed but he has done so well with his treatments and he has had them all. That is why it was such a shock when Dr said they had done all they could do. Best of luck in your treatment and prayers for you
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