FIL Prostate Cancer diagnosis

[Itsonlybridget1]

could anyone help me understand what we're dealing with. FIL has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Here's what we know so far

Gleason Stage 9
Possibly stage 3 cancer
It has not spread to the bones (confirmed with multiple scans)
Consultant said that the cancer was quite close to his rectum which could cause complications
He's had 1 hormone injection and is due another in June, radiotherapy won't start until after the 2nd hormone injection. No word yet on if he needs chemotherapy

We live a couple of hours away from DH's parents and they're not the best at communicating, but actually since the cancer diagnosis they have been a lot better.

We all feel like we're in limbo with everything, poor FIL is quite anxious about everything, made worse by having no set plan or fully knowing how bad things are. FIL is early 70's.

If anyone could help I'd really appreciate it. TIA

Hi op, sorry to hear about your FiL’s diagnosis. Has the cancer spread outside the prostate, ie - to lymph-nodes? Or is it still contained within the prostate? I’m assuming they’ve not suggested surgery to remove the prostate?

A Gleeson score of 9 unfortunately suggests the cancer is quite aggressive.

Thank you for your reply, I’ve no idea if it has spread beyond the prostate. The oncologist recently revised the Gleason from an 8 to a 9 and said more scans are needed.

so far surgery has not been mentioned

Sorry to hear about your FIL’s diagnosis.
How far it has spread is key. The fact it’s not in his bones is good. Has it gone to his lymph nodes?
If it’s Gleason 9 , it’s very aggressive but the injections will block the testosterone which the cancer feeds on and halt its progress.
If it no longer confined to the prostate then surgery is less likely to be recommended because the surgeon won’t be able to remove all of the cancer. Brachytherapy might be an option though.

His team will have some nurse specialists to speak with. As long as FIL gives your permission, they should be able to speak with you. He might need to contact them first though to ask them to call you. If he doesn't have a number for them already, he could contact his consultants secretary. They should be a number on a recent letter.