Wellness

[ChynnaBlue]

My father just finished radiation treatment for prostate cancer back in February. We're still waiting on the results, as the body needs time to adjust after radiation treatment.

He had tests that came back negative for cancer, but also had high PSA numbers. He went to a free seminar at the local library where two specialists talked about new diagnostic tools and spoke to the doctors after the presentation. He called the next day and made an appointment to get tested again. That's when they discovered the cancer. It was in the very early stages and the doctor was very positive about the expected outcome.

After that, my dad had to do some hormone therapy for a while, then finally started the radiation. The time between the diagnosis and the actual radiation therapy was about 3 months. He had 9 weeks of radiation treatments, every Monday - Friday. The actual treatment lasted mere minutes, but the prep before each treatment was unpleasant.

And now we're all waiting.

I wish you the best of luck, @Calcgirl. You and your boyfriend will be in my thoughts.

[Demitra1]

My husband had a prostetectomy ten years ago at age 65. His local GP was suspicious after a digital exam because there was a "hard" place, as he explained to us.  DH's PSA was never abnormally high. He was sent to a large area hospital and examined there. I went to the consultation, and after hearing all the options, I just asked if my DH was the doctor's dad, which treatment would he recommend. When he said surgery, that was good enough for me. The main concern I kept in my mind was the area was right on the edge of his prostate. In other words, it would have been easy and probable for it to spread to other areas.

He has done extremely well. He did not have to have any follow up treatments at all. As far as the "side effects", I can say they are minimal in the grand scheme of things!

The best of luck to your DH, and to you as well.  It is hard (or at least it was for me) to know exactly what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. DH internalizes all his feelings, so sometimes it's best to discuss things just a little or not at all. You know your husband and can gauge that for yourself.

[goldensrbest]

My husbands story is not the same, he found out he had prostate cancer, in 2000, he could not have surgery,  he had radiation, but it effected his kidneys, he had to have tubes inserted into his kidneys, and wear bags in which his urine went into,he had alot of trouble with them,he went to new york ,to a specialist,found a wonderful doctor at beth israel hospital in boston, he was put on hormone therapy, many different times, went through trail drugs, his cancer was aggressive, he lived with this for 13 years, one of the few ones that lived that long.

[croemer]

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@jubilant wrote:

My DH had his prostate removed. He had it removed robotically (is that a word?)  They felt they had got it all but his psa's came back and have been rising. They are waiting for it to get to a certain number, then they can do radiation on just the place they find.   Within the next few months he will be getting radiation.  Maybe someone already said this..... but please know that total removal can cause impotency and loss of bladder control. 

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Very true jubliant...but in the grand scheme life is a better choice. My father did radiation...suffered those same consequences and died of prostate cancer. He told me in his last days...he was worried about these issues and if he could go back he would have had the surgery. 

The best to you and your husband.

[croemer]

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@fortune wrote:

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@Calcgirl wrote:

Thank you all for the kind, encouraging words and for sharing your own encounter with prostate cancer.  The best part of what everyone shared was the success that you all experienced.  That brings hope that all will turn out well.   I lost my late husband to illness; I really don't want to lose a dear friend.

He is 64 by the way.  I won't be with him at the biopsy procedure, but his son will be there.  Bad thing is he doesnt take pain well.

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Why can't he ask for local anesthesia for this procedure?

My best wishes for your friend!  Big HUGS to you!!!

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Good question...

[croemer]

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@goldensrbest wrote:

My husbands story is not the same, he found out he had prostate cancer, in 2000, he could not have surgery,  he had radiation, but it effected his kidneys, he had to have tubes inserted into his kidneys, and wear bags in which his urine went into,he had alot of trouble with them,he went to new york ,to a specialist,found a wonderful doctor at beth israel hospital in boston, he was put on hormone therapy, many different times, went through trail drugs, his cancer was aggressive, he lived with this for 13 years, one of the few ones that lived that long.

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Sorry for your loss goldensrbest if I am reading your post correctly.

[croemer]

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@ChynnaBlue wrote:

My father just finished radiation treatment for prostate cancer back in February. We're still waiting on the results, as the body needs time to adjust after radiation treatment.

He had tests that came back negative for cancer, but also had high PSA numbers. He went to a free seminar at the local library where two specialists talked about new diagnostic tools and spoke to the doctors after the presentation. He called the next day and made an appointment to get tested again. That's when they discovered the cancer. It was in the very early stages and the doctor was very positive about the expected outcome.

After that, my dad had to do some hormone therapy for a while, then finally started the radiation. The time between the diagnosis and the actual radiation therapy was about 3 months. He had 9 weeks of radiation treatments, every Monday - Friday. The actual treatment lasted mere minutes, but the prep before each treatment was unpleasant.

And now we're all waiting.

I wish you the best of luck, @Calcgirl. You and your boyfriend will be in my thoughts.

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Wishing you guys the best...so many have done well after radiation.

[Mmsfoxxie]

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@goldensrbest wrote:

My husbands story is not the same, he found out he had prostate cancer, in 2000, he could not have surgery,  he had radiation, but it effected his kidneys, he had to have tubes inserted into his kidneys, and wear bags in which his urine went into,he had alot of trouble with them,he went to new york ,to a specialist,found a wonderful doctor at beth israel hospital in boston, he was put on hormone therapy, many different times, went through trail drugs, his cancer was aggressive, he lived with this for 13 years, one of the few ones that lived that long.

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@goldensrbest, I so sorry for your lost!  I wish I dared show this post to my husband so that he'd realize that things could be worse. I don't think he'd appreciate me sharing his situation, so I can't.

With his prostate cancer in 2013 or 2014, I guess you could say he won the battle but lost the war.  The cancer was removed but was a radical surgery that included part of his bladder.  What was left of the bladder kept closing up so he had another surgery to open it up and had to use a Cather for weeks.  He then had a thing put in that I've forgotten the name of, done on an outpatient basis.  That worked but he was and still in pain in his scrotum.  He's been taking pain pills for months because his doctors said it takes time for the nerves to fully heal.  

Today he he went to see another specialist.  He was told he could have another surgery to resection (I believe that's the word) but it might not work either.  He's tried all of the safe, non-addictive pain pills so the doctor says he might just have to live with the pain and wear loose underwear to lessen it (rubbing).  I believe his first doctor damaged the nerves mores than he said he might causing irreversible damage.

These are the personal things that you can't share with friends.  I know some will same you shouldn't share with anybody.  Oh, well.

[Calcgirl]

I am so sorry  for your loss.  I am also a widow and my friend is a widower.  We have found comfort and companionship with eachother, but most of all a true, dear friendship.

[Calcgirl]

Oh, I am so sorry.  My prayers are with you both.