Re: ~ Newbie to this board

[Guest guest]

Bethann

The first thing to say is that the odds are that your dad will not die of this cancer.

It is likely that he could have hormone manipulation treatment rather than radical tretament at his age, unless he is very very fit. You may see us talk about Lupron or Zoledex implants with a tablet given before the first treatment to stop a flare affecting the cancer. This is a sudden production of testosterone that Lurpron and Zoledex cause. This is then followed by a shutdown of testosterone production. My dad has been in a similar situation for a good number of years, he is now 93 and is having a treatment holiday because his PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen protein) has gone down to zero for a few months. This is measured by a blood test.

Many men will live with this treatment quite well, though other options have to be used by some men. If a 3 monthly implant has bad effects such as mood swings or hot flushes - then monthly good be tried first with a third of the dose.

By the way someone asked about mimising hot flushes last week. I have heard Evening Primrose oil capsules and ear acunpuncture can minimise this.

I wonder if you want to comment on how well dad is in other ways, has he other ailments that may call him to higher places sooner than a very slow growing non agressive tumour?

There are a few other tests that guide physicians on how to treat patients. The PSA and staging are important. We can guess much of this but not the PSA. I don't know if you can get this but it maybe a bit soon in your journey to go in with two big feet!

I suggest that you stay with us and ask a few more questions of us.

It may be that after a few weeks you can say that you have come across an article about most men over 80 having prostate cancer which doesn't affect them much and they don't know. The docs only find this after a pathology investigation.

I think dad would be right not to go for radical tretament for what appears to be a non agressive tumour. In a few months he may be talked into drug treatment - how do you feel about that?

Best wishes

~ Newbie to this board

Morning everyone

My name is Bethann, I am 42 years old.

I have found out some information recently that I guess I'm just trying to get confirmation on.

My father is 83 years old, and for years has had urinary problems. Recently (Aug 2007) he had a biopsy done on his prostate. When I inquired about the results I was told there was no cancer.....this was information from my mother, when she asked my father.

In helping with some bills for them I came across the biopsy report......here are the words I read

"Right....glandual hyperplasi and fibromusclular hyperplasia....Local prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, moderate Pin II"

"Left ... adenocarcinoma of prostate, gleason pattern 3+4=7 no perineural invasion"

Of course I have googled all w ords and combination of words.......and it doesn't seem like it takes a rocket scientist to see, my father has cancer. PLEASE someone confirm this for me.

I am angry at my father for not sharing this information. I don't believe it's fair to the family, yet I understand and respect his need for privacy. If my mother knew he had cancer she'd be a nervous wreck forever and a day.....but is it fair she doesn't know. So I'm in a quandry how to proceed. My thought was to write him a letter, so he can read it on his terms, in private without feeling defensive or angry with me in his presence. I also know that he will not ensue any type of medical treatment....so anther question is how long does he have to live?

I suppose that is enough for now.........I'm still trying to distangle my thoughts and decide how to move forward with this information. I should also state that I have four brothers that I am not involved in their lives......nor are they involved in my parents lives......disfunction at it's best......I have no regard to inform them and no guilt to go along with that decision...but the care of my mother afterward will fall under my watch.

Thanks in advance for any and all help in understanding this matter

Bethann

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