Watching dad slip away. Get your PSA checked!

[RickM]

My dad has been struggling with Prostate cancer for the last few years and I'm afraid to say he's not doing well.

This is a very tough situation to witness. On top of that I've been out of work for quite a while and in the process of selling some of my toys to keep my head above water.....it all hits at once...dammit.

While the job search is temporary it just adds to my frustration.

Anyway, my dad was diagnosed early on with regard to the prostate cancer. Since he made the choice to refuse surgery he was put on hormone therapy to slow/stop the spread. ( I begged him to get the surgery)

Long story short, he neglected his condition while my mother was battling a second bout of Leukemia. After my mother passed he returned to the doc and discovered the cancer had spread to his spine. That was last year.

Chemo has become ineffective and we are now trying to keep him as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately we're very close to the Morphine drip stage which is basically the last measure.

This is tough to watch. I asked him yesterday how his Fathers' day was going and he said "Painfully". That really hit home.

So, please, get your PSA checked and whatever else is needed to avoid what does not have to be a torturous ending.


(Sorry for the long post but I need to vent and this is probably the best place I know to do it)

[kaisen]

edit: sorry I missed the point of spreading beyond the prostrate.

[Joeaksa]

Just had a very good friend of mine living in the NYC area with this very same thing. He was out sailing on his boat and out of the blue hit with crippling pain so bad he fell to the deck of the boat. Luckily for him his wife was onboard and she immediately got on the radio requesting help.

She got the boat to the dock where they were met by an ambulance that took him to the ER. Turns out that he had prostate cancer. One year later he is ok and now has his FAA medical back but it was touch and go for a very long time.

Every friend of his now gets an email from time to time to check your prostrate. We do... hope your Father has an easy time of it. Mine passed a long time ago with bone cancer and the last six months on a morphine drip. It really made a difference for him and us as well.

Will put your Father in my prayers.

[lendaddy]

Damn Rick that's tough. Our thoughts are with you, your father and your family.

[Jim727]

Very sorry to hear that, Rick. This group of crazies will be pulling for you both!

[LeRoux Strydom]

Rick

I am also sorry to hear about your Dad's condition. Is surgery really too late?

Strength to him, you and your family in this trying time.

Le Roux

[tabs]

Once the Cancer spreads beyond its orginal source it is only a matter of time.

an Onocologist who practiced at the City of Hope told me that at age 60, 60% of men have Prostrate Cancer, at age 70, 70% of men have Prostrate cancer and at age 80, 80% of men have Prostrate cancer. It is a function of Testerone turning against you as you age. Stop the source of Testerone and you stop Prostrate Cancer.

There was a longe term study done in Scandinavia where men took who Vitamin E for over a 10 year period had 35% less incidence of Prostrate cancer. The US within the past couple of years have launched a similar to study to verify the results of the Scandinavian Study.

[jriera]

Rick, be strong.

I have been there twice in less than a year, first dad and then mom.

Nothing I can say will make you feel you or your dad better.

And yes, I do periodical prostate and colon (among others) exams, as everybody else should do.

[RickM]

Originally posted by tabs
Once the Cancer spreads beyond its original source it is only a matter of time.

It is a function of Testerone turning against you as you age. Stop the source of Testerone and you stop Prostrate Cancer.

100% correct. They say most men die with it but not of it.

A recent study found that multiple vitamins accelerated the progress of the disease as well. The stipulated that the vitamins did not instigate the onset of the cancer but that he cancer flourished with the added nutrients.

BTW, thanks for the well wishes it means alot to me. I'll also pass them on to my dad later this morning.

[stevepaa]

If you ever get diagnosed, get the surgery. I did, and others on this board did also.


Rick, sorry to hear that about your father. My father in law delayed too late with his cancer. I know what you are going through.

[KFC911]

That sucks Rick, it's got to be tough on you and everyone involved...

ps: When should these tests begin (at age 50)?

[Rot 911]

I get mine checked every year. Rick sorry about your dad. Sometimes is seems like without bad luck you'd have no luck at all.

[1967 R50/2]

Sorry to hear about your dad Rick. I'll be praying for you both.

[Moneyguy1]

Rick:

My prayers are with you and your dad.

A little story:

Once there was a king. He summoned his wise men and ordered them to devise a speech he could use on any occasion, whether it be a feast, a funeral, or other event at which he would be obligated to speak. He wanted it short and concise, easy to memorize and difficult to get wrong. Tall order. They worked for a long time and the least of them presented his idea to the others. At first they laughed at him, but with time they came up with nothing better, so it was presented to the king. The king nodded and smiled..."Precisely what I wanted", he said.

The speech?

"And this too shall pass."

Stay strong.

[Grady Clay]

Guys,

I'm an 8-year survivor. Check here:
prostrate biopsy

PSA still undetectable.

Best,
Grady

[KFC911]

Thanks Grady (and everyone else)! As others posted in that thread, we've learned to expect this from you on the 911 forum, but that was a great first PPOT post! I learn something new every day here, thanks again...

[Lothar]

Rick,

I'm very sorry to hear about your dad. I lost my mom a couple of weeks ago. She was diagnosed with lung cancer at the end of March and was given only a few weeks to a month. We had some quality time together in the 72 days after she was released from the hospital.

I hope you can build some pleasant memories together in the time you have left. My prayers are with you and your family.

[KFC911]

You have my condolences too Lothar, that's a hard one to take...