My dad has just be diagnosed, I'm scared!

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New members are advised to either download or order the toolkit from the site, this gives info on treatments etc.

I think there are many of on here who get diagnosed almost by accident and may have had cancer for some years without knowing, and we are still around.

You will not get a full picture until all the scans are done then your Dad will be given treatment options.

As we say on here there are no silly questions.

Nice to know your are looking for dad.

Thanks Chris

Edited by member 10 Apr 2016 at 18:48  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Colleen, welcome to this site from me as well. Waiting for results and appointments is very hard to do and being worried is part of it but try and stay calm, or at least keep your dad calm, read as much as you can about PCa(not from dr Google)and ask whatever you want from members on this site we will all try and help if we can.

My story so far is I am 66 years old and was diagnosed in Feb last year with a PSA 63, Gleason 3+4=7 and T2 staging and aggressive PCa confined to the prostate, similar to your dad so let's hope MRI results say the same, I was started on Zoladex hormone therapy(HT) and had 37 fractions of radio therapy(RT) ended in Nov 2015. At start of RT my PSA had dropped to 0.5 and in Jan this year dropped to 0.01 and officially undetectable. I shall be on HT for next twelve months and PSA will be monitored every three months.
I was not offered a radical prostectomy because my prostate was too close to the rectum wall.

I tell you this to show that unless the cancer has broken out of the capsule it has been less invasive than I at first feared and until you have the MRI results and seen whatever treatment plan will be offered you can do nothing about it apart from research and worrying will achieve nothing.

Try to stay positive throughout this ordeal and tell your dad to carry on as normal if he can and take one step at a time. Ask any questions whatsoever as there are no taboo subjects. Also if you or your dad feel the need for one to one talking then the specialist nurses on this site will be a great help to you.

Best wishes and let's hope the results of the MRI scan are favourable.

Regards Chris/Woody

Life seems different upside down, take another viewpoint

Hi Colleen,

Sometimes in addition to an MRI scan they want to do a bone scan so this is a possibility. When all is done and considered by the medical team a meeting should follow when your Dad will be told his diagnosis and treatment options that are available to him. I note that Dad is unsure of some of the details he was previously given so it would be a good idea for somebody to accompany him and possibly make a few notes so these can be further considered later in his own time.

It's certainly a worrying time, not helped by waiting for a diagnosis and formulating a treatment plan with Dad's agreement.

Treatments have improved greatly over recent years so men have a better chance of PCa being eradicated or curtailed even if in some cases additional treatment has to be given in due course.

Do let us know how Dad gets on.

Not happy times, the PCUK nurses are very good and you can call them or chat on line. I cannot speak for your Dad, but my father was diagnosed with PCa 18 years ago aged 69 and he is still alive, so don't give up hope.

Good to hear that news.
Henry

Hoping all goes well for Dad today. It will take time for him to get over the op so make sure he does as he is told like the rest of us guys always do !!

Kind regards,

Kevan

We dad went down for surgery at 2.30 pm yesterday and at 2.30pm today, I was driving him in his driveway! He glad to be home, but in a lot of pain, more like gas pain from the Co2 they use during surgery. They are pleased with how the op went, they said his prostate was 4" long, so they had to make a bigger incision to remove it. The tumour was in both sides of the prostate, but they got it out with no complications. Now on the road to recovery, 2 weeks with catheter then will see what happens next. Will keep you informed on his journey.