Hi my dad is 78 in April and lives in England. He had prostate surgery in 2019 but cancer had already spread. He's had chemo and ADT. His PSA went from 3.3 last Sept to 7.9 in November. A PSMA scan revealed he had Mets to Lymph nodes and some low-volume skeletal lesions in right iliac bone. He started Abiraterone and Prednisone in Feb and his PSA has now gone back down to 1.4, which is great. However he's now suffering chronic fatigue and complains of feeling exhausted all the time. I notice he also looks more frail. I've read abiraterone does cause fatigue, Does he just have to learn to live with this? His prognosis is terminal and after Abiraterone doctors have said he'll just be moved to clinical trials.
Any advice on dealing with the exhaustion? Given his age I suppose there is not much he can do, but he continues working and keeps himself busy, but is now lacking energy and sleeps a lot.
Thank you🙏
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Lemonpower
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Fatigue can be improved with exercise and all kind of movement. Also weight lifting, gymnastic or even going for a walk helps. I don’t know the current fitness level of your dad. But if he could give it a try I‘m confident that he will experience step by step improvements.
I understand........ I can get a days work done, but it takes me two days to a week to complete. Just get him out doing anything.. I have taken up trolling for trout in my kayak with one of my daughters or grand kids... Also growing more garden than I can keep up with. Any exercise and busy time is great for him and me.. Life Is Good, especially with loved ones around.
Another to testify for exercise, an absolute must. Assuming he is still on ADT, that is far more likely the main cause of his fatigue than the abiraterone.
Even if no longer on ADT his testosterone does not have a great chance of substantial return at 78, especially with the addition of abiraterone.
The drugs themselves don’t cause fatigue, but the the resulting testosterone suppression wastes muscle, which does the job. Weight lifting in particular is the antidote.
I was getting worried about my fatigue and loss of muscle mass while on Zytiga. (I am still on it, after 4 years).
I found an online site during lockdown that helped greatly, called Goldster. I provides all manner of classes for those of a certain age, including various exercise regimes (yoga, strength, whole body workout).
I join in a class that 5 days a week runs for an hour on Zoom from 7.00 - 8.00 am. That is is on Zoom is wonderful, as the class leader frequently comes to watch us and gives individual feedback. I feel so much better knowing that I am working on both muscle mass and bone density.
Do I find it tiring? Sure. I have to have a nap in the early afternoon. But isn't that one of the delights of retirement?
I wonder if this site would help your dad. Maybe try their 30 day free trial to see.
I started to write,sneezed and hit reply. Excellent trend. I'm same age have to keep busy . Try going to gym or physical therapy gym to get some advice. It's tough but rewarding.
Like the others, I recommend some form of exercise. I'm 78, was diagnosed last October, and been on Zytiga for four months. PSA now 0.04, and I feel great except for strange pain in my side that goes away during the day as I walk around and keep moving. I even started a full time job from mid-January until mid-March that had me getting up at 5:00 am and getting home at 3:00. I lifted 30-pound cases of laptop computers, walked around classrooms monitoring students, and did a lot of driving. After finishing that, I now do some simple stretches in the mornings and stay active in clubs, etc.
I know I am fortunate, but I do believe that staying active with positive attitude is key to staying as healthy as possible.
By the way, tests can vary and be misleading and take you on a roller coaster. . Last week I had a CT scan to check out the pain in my side. We had begun to think it was a hernia. Results showed no hernia and no reason for the pain. But the radiologist did think he found new Mets on bones and concluded "Worsening metastatic disease."
My oncologist was not satisfied with that and scheduled a bone scan, which concluded "I see no disease progression."
It is indeed a roller coaster, so I just try to enjoy the ride! 🤗
14 months now on Lupron and abiraterone. I can totally relate to the fatigue. If I’m too active one day then the following day I’m exhausted. Yard work and gardening are my exercise but I know I should do more. Went to PT and they have me doing a series of abdominal and back stretches and bands for strengthening. That all seems to helping with the aches and pains. Hoping I can get back out for my one hour power walks with hill climbs soon!
Become a house husband...... that will make him sweat..... I really am saddened by the though that your dear Mum is suffering from severe dementia. It must be really tough on your Dad and your entire family. God Bless you all.
Yes dealing with a mum who has no idea what day/year it is or why coronavirus is dangerous, and a father with terminal cancer is overwhelming. I have carers come in twice a day for a couple of hours and that is a huge help. I wouldn't be able to do it all on my own, especially as I myself had a brain tumour removed in 2016, but life is what it is. And I know that there are people in far more diffficult situations than I. So I'm thankful for what I have, and try not to dwell on the many challenges. One foot in front of the other is really the only way to lead life.🙏
You probably hear my head shaking from disbelief/amazement. You are going through the mill. You're correct one foot in front of the other. It sounds like you're the only offspring which makes me shudder since I thought I had issues awhile back. Most of them were settled by the passing of most of my family. May God give you the strength to be able to say "I did it" even though the memories and pain never fade. Again God Bless you all...
Actually I'm not the only offspring. My sibling lives in another country and the demands placed on me for last decade, including after my own diagnosis, has caused a lot of tension. But yes, having myself been near death at one point, I know from experience had important it is to leave this world knowing that you have a clear conscience and did the best you could. So yes I will say "i did it" and when my parents pass I will be at peace. And when all is said and done "inner peace" is what matters. However I always look at other situations, for example Ukraine now with parents trying to escape with children awaiting cancer treatment, and say to myself, "things could definitely be much much worse."
You have such a positive attitude despite being thrown multiple curve balls. You are inspiring. I hope things start to get easier for you and your family. Hugs.
❤️❤️Thank you. Full disclosure, I do have to say I take meds that help me deal with anxiety and keep negative thoughts in check, without them I don't know if I would be able to cope. I also dedicate my bed time reading to learning about brave role models who sacrificed much for greater good of humanity like Martin Luther King, Mandela, and Civil Rights leader John Lewis. From their infinite sacrifrce to furthering cause of others I take inspiration. As Albert Einstein said, "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."
Good for you, it’s very hard to recognize you need help and then getting the help. It took me being knocked to my knees last year before I decided to reach out. I am on anxiety meds and I see a psychologist once a month or more for a tune up. Wow that’s quite a reading list, I need to make more time for reading for pleasure rather than work.
I'm 79, on abiraterone have no fatigue problems, However, I do aerobic and resistance trainingthre days a week. Even a small amount may help. Ask an exercise physiologist.
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