Hi. My Dad diagnosed with Advanced Stage 4 Prostate Cancer with Mets to bones in August 2017 with prognosis of few months. He’s had 3 rounds of chemo, been on 3 trials including enzalutamine, intravenous radiation and most recently immunotherapy (checkmate 848).
He’s been ill last two months and required a few blood transfusions. He was taken off the radiation trial as he had a lesion on his liver. They stated it was important to treat that area. He received 2 lots of chemo over 6 weeks before being taken of the chemo in order to start on the immunotherapy trial.
He was very ill 2 weeks ago and needing another blood transfusion which he received. Last week we got the news that there are now multiple lesions in the liver and that there is nothing more they can do. He was sent home yesterday basically to live out his final weeks.
I have ordered Fenbencur with curcumin and milk thistle.
My concern is that his liver may not cope.
He has only been given weeks so this is a last ditch effort to prolong his life. Any thoughts?
Written by
swill1975
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Loved ones have to decide if it worth prolonging his life by a few months and at what cost to his quality of life, suffering etc. Its a family's choice after all.
Some people make a logical choice of keeping their loved one fully comfortable, pain free and anxiety free and let them leave the physical body peacefully and allow passage of soul in a tranquil and spiritual manner
So ultimately the choice has to be made by loved ones.
hello—i believe i saw and commented on your post in the PCa group on facebook. i was the one who was really really annoyed and angry at your dad’s doctors.
i’m glad you’re on this forum. there are a couple other guys with liver mets (including my dad, who is receiving chemo for them) so hoping a crew can find an answer for you!
is that don't take the two "together"? or do not take at all? I do Fenben in the AM....sometimes and I take a Tylenol in the late afternoon or evening.
I am very sorry how things have gone for you and your dad. While I don't know all the details, I would question some of the medical treatment choices just based on his body's ability to maintain basic health enough to undergo treatment.
Sometimes, I think doctors react too quickly with a singular mindset focused on the disease progression and less on the patient as a whole. Ultimately, this can lead to a breakdown of the body's immune system, rather than strengthening of it. Docetaxel is usually made to target PCa but it also kills good functioning cells and lowers immune response and I am personally opposed to it for PCa.
As Tall Allen said, the Fenbencur with curcumin and milk thistle is toxic to liver function at certain doses and in your father's case, he already has liver damage.
While many things could have gone differently and anger and grief are likely justified, now is the time for identifying options. if your dad is still able to travel, you might consider taking him and his medical records to a top-rated PCa center where research is being done for advanced PCa for a second opinion. Obviously, you would have to talk with them to see if they think it is worthwhile. Then, you will at least know if there are any other options left and can decide if any are worth pursuing. Quality of life should always be considered. Does he want to spend his remaining time undergoing more treatment or would he rather let go now? What is the percentage chance any of the possible treatment options being effective in any real way?
I believe you need to regain control of your understanding of he information and regain emotional calm for you and your dad. If truly nothing more can be done, your greatest gift to him and yourself is to be accepting of what is happening and to help him make that transition peacefully and with love. Hospice care can address pain but only family and friends can make his remaining time meaningful. As much pain as this will cause for you, your permission for him to leave is very important.
I wish you all the best. May you have peace, calm and clarity.
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