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BakeryLady
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Joined: 07 Apr 2008
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 Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:45 pm Post subject: Prognosis for 86yo dx with prostate cancer & liver mets |
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My father registered a PSA of 5 back in Aug., he was retested in early Feb. and the PSA had jumped to 50. His urologist ordered a CT scan and discovered liver "leisions" (we now know are metastatic tumors), and biopsy of the prostate that indicated tumors with a Gleason of 4+4=8.
He was referred to an oncologist who ordered a bone scan and liver biopsy. The bone scan was clean, but the liver biopsy confirmed our concerns of the liver metatstasis. He calls the liver tumors "high grade", but stops short of giving us any kind of timeframe for his life expectancy. Why must the drs. dance around the obvious question????
At any rate, he was given a oral dose of chemo (Cathlodex?), and is scheduled for a shot of Lupron later this week, but in speaking with his nurse this afternoon, she indicated that they did not expect any promising results - just sort of a 'last resort' measure.
Any insight anyone can give me??? Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
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brainman
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Joined: 13 Oct 2005
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Location: Tennessee
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BakeryLady
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Joined: 07 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Prognosis for 86yo dx with prostate cancer & liver mets |
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Thank you so much for your reply.
I know none of us have a crystal ball. I've had too many relatives die of cancer, some out living their 'life expectancy' by over a decade. The thing is that my father lives in a community 6 hours away. I'm an only child and fully intend to care for him until his dying day. I also own a small business and need to make provisions for my that - someone to take over my work load when the day comes that I need to stay home with him. He and I will talk face to face this weekend, and I'm going to broach the subject of him moving in with my family.
He has another appointment with his drs. nurse practitioner in May, and a repeat of the bone scan. Maybe they'll be more forthcoming with him then. I think we all have the right to know our destiny to the best of our ability. I certainly would love to know if that were possible.
I just hope he moves from life to death with as little suffering as possible. He's in good spirits now, and is completely asymptomatic (from outward appearances) - no jaundice, no nausea, pain, ect. Just not sure how long that will hold out.
Thanks again, and best wishes to you Brainman! |
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brainman
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Location: Tennessee
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BakeryLady
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Joined: 07 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:31 pm Post subject: Re: Prognosis for 86yo dx with prostate cancer & liver mets |
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Excellent advise Brainman. He's coming up here tomorrow as a matter of fact, and staying for a week. I'm going to have the time to have some uninterrupted converstation and hope to convince him to stay with us permanently.
I've also made an appointment to meet with the area hospital's palliative services liason on Monday. Trying to prepare as best as possible for the moment. I've talked to my employees to ask for their help in taking over some of my responsibilties at work, so that I can spend as much time with dad as absolutely possible.
This brings back unpleasant memories - to the last few months of my mother's life. She passed away over 12 years ago of lung cancer, and unfortunately had to deal with the difficulty of brain metastasis, which stole her away from us even before she physically died.
Speaking of metastasis. I keep hearing my dad's urologist saying over and over how unusual it is for prostate cancer to metastasize to the liver. Any statistics on this? Is the fact that the first site of metastasis is the liver indicative of the aggressiveness of his cancer? |
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brainman
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kappersack
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Joined: 11 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: Prognosis for 86yo dx with prostate cancer & liver mets |
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Please do not give up any hope even if the cancer went into his liver. My fathers prognoses was very bad once his prostate cancer went o this liver. He received Taxotere and this extended his life. He is in his final days now, after 16 years of fighting this terrible cancer. He had a lot of side effects from Taxotere and would not take it again, if he had the choice. he says. His quality of life was pretty much gone after 1 year of Taxotere. The tumors are so large now. I just hope he wont be in much pain. It is very sad,, my father is only 67. I wish you the best
meow |
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