Father diagnosed recently

Posted by berren @goutzi, Aug 6 2:17pm

Hello to everyone!!
My father diagnosed 3 months ago with prostate cancer.

His psa 46, Gleason 9.
My English are not so good and i can't explain the full diagnosis.He has metastasis on lymph nodes and a small spot on bone from pet scan.
The urologist put him on orgovyx for three years when I asked him.
He's at the beginning of second month without side effects.
The doctors talk about therapy at the root through radiotherapy.

My concern is about the consequences in my family.
My mother had a stroke 4 years ago and is 83% disabled.
I have functional schizophrenia and I managed to work previously.
My sister is the main caregiver of our mother and she is tired after those years.

My fear is that family life is not manageable at the future and I am afraid of a collapse.

Is caregiving on hormone therapy so demanding and exhausting.
Any advices?

Wishing good health to everyone!
Thanks in advance.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

rajeev | @rajeev | Aug 6 3:09pm

My brother in law is getting testosterone suppressant and an injection for bone strengthening he has prostate cancer bone metastasis
We met multiple doctors for opinion and has refrained from any radio or chemotherapy for the time being
You got to be strong and don’t give up collect all of your strength and help yourself and the family members. God help those who help themselves
We can’t give up

wooldridgec | @wooldridgec | Aug 6 3:23pm

How old is your father?

mjp0512 | @mjp0512 | Aug 6 3:45pm

I'm 71 and have been on hormone therapy for over a year. I live alone with no caregivers and work a small hobby farm with some critters and a 1/2-acre garden. Is it harder than it used to be? Yes. Am I ready to quit? Not yet.

berren | @goutzi | Aug 6 3:46pm

In reply to @wooldridgec "How old is your father?" + (show)

@wooldridgec 69 years old

berren | @goutzi | Aug 6 3:48pm

In reply to @mjp0512 "I'm 71 and have been on hormone therapy for over a year. I live alone with..." + (show)

@mjp0512 You have plenty of courage!!best wishes for your health!!

northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Aug 6 3:52pm

Yes, all good follow-up questions for the OP.

Here's my own experience: I've been on hormone treatment for stage-4b/metastatic prostate cancer since 2021, and I don't require any caregiving (on the contrary, I actually help take care of my grandson and grandpuppy). However

1. I'm relatively young (56 when I started on hormone treatment; 61 now).

2. I have no serious comorbidities.

3. Everyone responds to hormone treatment differently.

I'm on Orgovyx and Erleada (Apalutamide).

gently | @gently | Aug 6 4:05pm

You might get an appointment for your father with a radiation oncologist.
Treatments for prostate cancer are often palliative in addition to slowing, or stopping cancer growth.
Wishing the best for your besieged family. What country are you in.

tattodice | @tattodice | Aug 6 5:58pm

From a father’s perspective, you are being a very good daughter looking for guidance here. I would be proud of my daughter for doing the same. Don’t have any experience with ADT. I will be keeping your father in my prayers 🙏🏽

Jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | Aug 6 6:44pm

I’m 78 and I’ve been on Orgovyx (ADT0For the last three years. Before that I was on Lupron (also ADT) For six years and it works pretty much the same.

I lead a pretty normal life. Nobody has any idea I have prostate cancer unless I told them..

I do walk on the track twice a day for a mile and do weight exercises three times a week. I Have taken both strengtheners for the last seven years because the drugs weaken your bones.

Some people get fatigue from ADT others do not. I never did.

The most frequent symptoms is hot flashes, and there are solutions for that if he has that as a problem, come back and ask for help.

copyman | @copyman | Aug 6 8:05pm

Try and relax. You are doing a good job. Reminds me of an old Italian neighbor before he passed, when my daughter was born he said "what did you have a boy or a girl", I told him a girl and he got so excited and said "you are blessed, now you have someone to take care of you when you get old, with sons forget it"!
Prostate cancer is very treatable and many treatment options. Like the other poster mentioned have your father see a radiation oncologist for a treatment plan. If you can get a 2nd opinion as well. Wishing your dad and your family the best!