So a bit of background my husband was diagnosed last November PSA 167, Gleason 9.
He finished 6 rounds of chemo in May and is due to start whole pelvic radiotherapy in August. The CT and bone scan showed an enlarged prostate obviously and one pelvic lymph node.
His consultant is like a robot with no emotion/compassion/encouragement at all. Whilst he was recently in with pneumonia he commented that his latest CT scan shows the lymph node is more or less back to normal, PSA less than 0.1 so as expected. That was it.
I'm doing this whole thing by myself and feel a huge sense of responsibility for his life. He's currently on Prostap.
Is there anything else you would be doing?
Did the chemo shrink the lymph node so it's gone?
His consultant is so dismissive, I would of liked more encouragement after 8 months of hell. Is this a good response? You're doing well etc but as we're in the UK we can't hire and fire dr's and my husband is ok with him.
We can't get abiraterone in the UK yet but wonder if it's worth paying for privately after radiotherapy.
Thanks for any thoughts.
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Fdccs
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Yes, the chemo can shrink the affected lymph node. I assume he is stil on hormone therapy? If he gets pelvic radiation now that is all you need to do. Save the Abiraterone for the time when hormone therapy does not work anymore.
"got any micro Mets" Personally, as an advanced PCa patient, I do not think you will ever get them all. You just can give the PCa a hard time so you will live for a very long time.
At this point, if he is less than 0.1 on his PSA--that is considered "undetectable" in many facilities....he is getting whole pelvic radiotherapy in August.....try and relax....the ADT is keeping the cancer down and then he gets his radiation... Everything is going well....He is doing OK....try and take care of yourself as well....go have fun with friends, walking or some form of exercise, meditation, prayer... these will help you and him if he decides to participate...Good luck....
It's OK....everybody has some anxiety days....you're a good wife...do something fun today--you deserve it.....nature walk perhaps....2 hours a week is good for health....
I don't know how the UK medical system works but if it is feasible change consultants. ADT drugs should be used before radiation. Usually Lupron. But I don't know enough to make any real determinations.
It isn't really possible to change consultants in the UK but he is on HT, has been on Prostap for 8 months now so prostate has shrunken from that ready for HT.
It would be a mistake to think of his metastases as gone.
The most curative therapy is external beam radiation with a brachytherapy boost. Ask your consultant for a referral to Peter Hoskin Mt Vernon Hospital in Northwood.
The fact that chemo and HT shrank the pelvic lymph node means that it is cancerous. I hope youu are able to get brachy boost therapy and not just "radiation."
Oh yes I know it is cancerous, I had just hoped the fact it had shrunk with those treatments meant it was no longer.
I will ask again about brachytherapy boost, our hospital do it but when I asked previously I was told they can't give maximum dose to whole pelvis and boost. We're meeting radiologist on 30th so I would expect them to know more.
If I couldn't change MD's/consultants I would find his automobile and stick (shove in deep) a thick potato (or two) in his exhaust pipe)s).... He's a damn robot...
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