Prostate cancer

[Elli474]

My amazing dad got diagnosed with prostate cancer on Tuesday. He has just turned 58. He only found out as he went to the doctors with a sore back and the doctor recommended a psa blood test. His psa was 10 so the doctor referred him to have an mri. From the mri scan, he then had a biopsy. The biopsy revealed the cancer. His Gleason score is 7 but luckily it hasn’t spread. I’m so devastated and terrified. I’m so close to him, I can’t bare the thought of losing him. It’s all I think about everyday. The hospital have offered him either radiotherapy or surgery to remove the prostate. I think he wants to go for the surgery. If you saw him you wouldn’t know he has cancer. He is young for his age, still working, very active and it isn’t stopping him from doing the things he enjoys. I’m trying to stay positive but the word ‘cancer’ is so scary. I would love to hear some positive stories/outcomes.

A family friend was diagnosed around the same age as your Dad. He opted for radiotherapy. Seven years later he's cancer free and living life to the maximum.

My utterly lovely Dad was diagnosed a few years ago. He was a few years older than your Dad is now. I can't remember what his PSA score was at the time of diagnosis but it was very very high. He opted for the radiotherapy over the surgery as well. His PSA score at his last check up was something ridiclous like 0.01. He's amazing, working, living life to the absolute fullest. You really wouldn't know.

I can completely remember the pain and fear. He's your Dad. Spend time with him - for me, it was the easiest way to get my head around it, as we could talk, laugh, cry, whatever. Good luck to you.

Thanks to you both for the positive stories

My amazing father in law was diagnosed 6 years ago. He chose radiotherapy, they shrank it down and now test his blood every year. At the time it was a shock, I was pregnant and he had just met his 1st grandchild. Now he is fine. The main thing he didn't like apart from the radiotherapy was the hormones he had to take which gave him 'small man boobies'. Your dad has caught it quick. I always thought if they were really worried they would have that prostate out the next day. Take each day as it comes x

This is very similar to my Dad, he was diagnosed earlier this year, opted for surgery and has the all clear, obviously with regular checks still needed. I was very scared to start with also but his prognosis is really very good

My dad has prostate cancer, he's doing fantastically well and is now in his late 70's. He was told by his consultant that many men die with prostate cancer rather than of it. Its very treatable. Try not to panic, he's in good hands and he will be ok.

Several family members have had this in last 15 years. Two had it removed, one by keyhole, and the other radiotherapy. All survived and are monitored regularly. Treatment options are improving all the time.

My Dad was diagnosed with PCa in 2001. He died in 2019 of something entirely different. His cancer was treated with hormones, and a 'watch and wait' regime. My cousin's husband also has prostate cancer, and has had for over a decade - you wouldn't know unless he told you, it's not affected his lifestyle much at all.

Please try not to worry too much - I remember the shock I felt when Dad got his diagnosis - but the doctors told us that it more common to die with prostate cancer than of prostate cancer - and they were right, in Dad's case. Hoping for the best for your Dad.

I'm sorry to hear of your dad's diagnosis OP. The fact it hasn't spread and they're offering him these treatments is positive news though as this indicates it's treatable. I wish your dad all the best and hope he gives cancer the thrashing it deserves .

Thanks everyone. I certainly feel more positive

My dh has a PSA of 15. Don't know what to say. He found our as he had it checked when he had a uti. I am pregnant. I don't know how I will cope as a widow

@sleepyhoglet

My dh has a PSA of 15. Don't know what to say. He found our as he had it checked when he had a uti. I am pregnant. I don't know how I will cope as a widow

15 is not that high. Is he having any referrals? Do not assume the worst.

My DH was diagnosed three years ago with a PSA of 25, after going to the doctors with what he thought was a urinary tract infection. He was treated with hormone injections and radiotherapy and is cancer free now ... he has to have annual PSA checks but has no more treatment scheduled. As someone said up thread, he was told he was more likely to die of something else entirely (probably old age!!! ... he's 74 now).

I recommend the Prostate Cancer UK web site for more information.

My dad and 6 or 7 of his friends were persuaded by their wives to join a medical research thing about prostate cancer which they had seen advertised in their GP's surgery. All the men were late 60s / early 70s at the time. My dad was 70.

They were all investigated and four were found to have prostate cancer. None of them knew or had any symptoms.

The idea of the research was to randomly assign them to one of three groups - surgery, radiotherapy or leave alone and monitor. However, my dad's was found to be particularly fast growing, so he was taken out of the trial and given radiotherapy.

All four (weĺl, all 7 actually) are still alive, now in their later 80s. Two are still on the watching brief, and fully expect to die with - rather than from - prostate cancer. The other one had radiotherapy randomly assigned and, like my dad, remains cancer free now.

That massive trial has apparently been very informative - prostate cancer is a cancer they now know a lot about how to treat.

I do remember that heart-stopping, stomach-sinking moment when my dad told me he had cancer, OP, but you cross each bridge as you come to it, and there are lots of positive stories like my dad and his friends.

My DH too, 5+ years ago, with the same Gleason score as your dad OP.
He had radiotherapy and is on quarterly hormone injections. With hindsight I wish he had been offered surgery, because in my mind what is not there cannot cause problems, but that is not an option after radiotherapy. Maybe find out if this is possible. Some of the side effects of hormones are difficult, but we have a great life. His consultant also said he would probably die of old age and an unrelated condition. Good luck, and make the most of every day!

@LIZS but he's only mid 40s. I read higher than 10 at that age suggest 50% chance of cancer. It was detected because he had a UTI but no follow up since being prescribed any biotics

DH had his removed 2 years ago slightly younger than your DF but not much.

The cancer was completely contained within the prostate so he is cancer free. It’s a very slow growing cancer and in your dads case they have caught it quite young. Many men don’t get diagnosed until their 70s by which time it’s spread.

The operation was very straightforward and he was home on a few days.

I’ve persuaded all my friends to get tested as well. It is a very controllable cancer when it is diagnosed early.

It’s so nice and reassuring to hear so many positive stories. Thanks everyone

Another very lucky one, DH told by doc during visit for sore knee ' may as well test your psa now you're 60 '. It was 12 after which started the six weeks apart visits and agonising waits in between....urologist couldn't feel anything unusual ( great, we thought )....mri anyway, yes, could see something....looked like all contained within prostate....biopsy...results...gleason 7 ( 3+4 )
Offered both radiotherapy and surgery.....very difficult choice but opted for surgery ....had it done robotically......post op visit 6 weeks later were over the moon to be told it was close but all contained in the prostate....Turned out on analysis it was more aggressive than original gleason suggested ( 4+3 )
No incontinence issues at all afterwards and now, 18 months later able to keep an erection.
Good luck

My dad was diagnosed at a similar age, with Gleason 7 (4+3), it hadn’t spread. He was offered watch and wait, but due to strong family history (my granddad died in his 60s of PCa, he ignored symptoms sadly until it was much much too late) he opted for treatment. He was offered surgery, radiotherapy or brachytherapy, which is little tiny radioactive chips inserted surgically into the prostate to kill the cancer (kind of like radiotherapy from the inside). Worked really well, he’s still around 5+ years later. I don’t think he had too many side effects, although I don’t know if he would talk to his daughter about continence/impotence! Good luck to your dad

@sleepyhoglet but even if he were in 50%, treatment options are many and effective. Dbro was diagnosed at 50 , not treated for several years (robotic keyhole) and is well 4 years on.

@sleepyhoglet

My dh has a PSA of 15. Don't know what to say. He found our as he had it checked when he had a uti. I am pregnant. I don't know how I will cope as a widow

15 isn’t high at all. My father was diagnosed at 56, told he’d die of something else before the CA got him and died last year of old age at 96!

My dad was diagnosed about 2 years ago, he is mid-70s. I can't remember his PSA or Gleason score but I think he had a fairly aggressive tumour, but it hadn't spread outside the prostate so his specialist felt he would get a curative response with radiotherapy. He had a course of injections first to shrink the tumour and I know his PSA went down with those too. He coped well with radiotherapy and now just has to have a blood test every 6 months for 5 years. His specialist was pretty reassuring and said to him that most men who have prostate cancer diagnosed will die of something else completely unrelated to the cancer, dad found this quite helpful to know as he had heard the Big C word and feared the worst immediately

There are amazing treatments for prostate cancer. My dad was on a hormone treatment and he died this year aged 87 - and not from prostate cancer XXX

Thank you for sharing your stories. It’s sad to hear so many people affected by this horrid disease. But at the same time it’s nice to hear so many positive outcomes.