Hi guys! I'm a new member. I thought I'd take a moment and introduce myself and share my dad's story. It's a bit lengthy, so apologies in advance! =)
Three years ago, by the fault of a drug-using, drug-dealing doctor my dad's PSA was rising, unmonitored and unaware. My 74 year old dad had developed a severe back pain that he simple attributed to lifting too heavy boxes during his recent move. He went to his MD but was declared in "perfect health." (The DEA would later bust this doctor for his drug-dealing and determine that none of his patients had lab work completed as he had claimed. They concluded that he was probably tossing their blood samples rather than running them in their "in house" lab.)
It turns out that it wasn't lifting that was causing the pain, but rather that his prostate tumor had caused his kidneys to shut down and had sent him into renal failure.
His PSA was 257, his kidneys were shutting down and he had metastasis to a nearby lymph node. They tried to get a biopsy but because the tumor was so large, they were unsuccessful. He's never had successful biopsy, so we have never been given a Gleason score.
His doctors decided to give nephrostomy tubes a try, but doubted that they would work.. saying that he would have to be on dialysis for the remainder of his life and that we should start considering hospice care.
The nephrostomy tubes did work, though and after 6 rounds of chemo, Lupron and Casodex, my dad's PSA began to drop and his tumor began to shrink. He was able to have the tubes removed and his kidneys regained normal function!
This past June, was three years since they told us to consider hospice and his PSA continues to drop. His last reading was .05 and his oncologist (with the Cleveland Clinic) said that while we're continuing with three month PSA testing and Lupron shots, he doesn't need to see my dad but every 6 months unless something changes.
At this point in time, he's doing great. He deals with the side-effects from Lupron.. fatigue, hot flashes, etc. But otherwise he's enjoying life taking it one day at a time.
I was able to convince my dad's oncologist to set up an appointment with a genetic counselor to see about doing some genetic testing. My dad's mom died from ovarian cancer in the late 80s, my dad's sister had a run-in with breast cancer but is cancer free at the time and my little sister had a (benign) tumor grow so out of control on her ovary that they removed the entire ovary and tumor. So, we do have some family history. However, dad's oncologist doesn't believe that we're seeing an aggressive form of PC in my dad. He said that he believes my dad's is more low-grade and non-aggressive because of it's behavior and how it has responded to treatment. Still, I want to cover every base I can!
Anyhow, that is our story. I have enjoyed looking through other's posts and hope that I can contribute and learn a lot along the way!
Lynsi
daughter of stage iv patient here 
My Dad: Stage 4 Prostate Cancer. Please Help.
How do you find a good oncologist and how do you overcome the side effects of Lupron?
Abiraterone, Prednisone, Zometa – Without Lupron?
