My father in law has low grade prostate cancer

[Go78]

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with being on the lung transplant list and then being diagnosed with cancer, my father in law has just being diagnosed with localised low grade prostate cancer, I was wondering if he will be taking of the list for good or would have to be cancer free for a certain amount of Time. Thanks

[Caspiana]

Hello Go78 . I'm so sorry about your father in law's diagnosis. When I went for my transplant evaluation they told me that if they found any cancer I wouldn't be able to be on the list until I was cancer free. I am assuming you'd have to be well enough to undergo the rigours of transplant. I live in Japan and rules may differ in your country. I would think this is a question for his transplant team. Wishing you all well.

Cas xx 🍀

[Go78 in reply to Caspiana]

Thank so much for your reply, there doesn't seem much communication between hospital and transplant team and these test for his prostate has been going on for ages, so he has been of the list all this time. He is seeing the transplant team next month. I hope you are doing well xx

[Carnival567]

Is he going to have any treatment or are they doing 'watch and wait'? That will make a difference for clinical decisions .

[Go78]

Thanks for your reply, he was told if he didn't need new lungs they would watch and see what happens but they said they would give him radio and hormone treatment, but the consultant said if the transplant team want a 5 year cancer free period there is no point having the treatment because he will not survive 5 years, but realistically can anybody who has cancer have a 5 year wait when you need new lungs desperately.

[Carnival567]

What an awful decision for you, and difficult to resolve. As far as the prostate cancer goes my husband aged 74 had completely successful hormone and radio therapy last year and is now cancer free as far as anyone can say - last PSA 0.1. They won't give your father-in-law new lungs without cancer treatment and he is not going to recover from cancer without treatment and may get worse. Length of life, even with health problems , cannot be accurately predicted. I wish you all strength in this decision. Many blessings xx

[Go78 in reply to Carnival567]

Yeah I think they mean there is no way he will survive if it is a 5 year wait so they wouldn't want to treat a slow growing cancer and put him through that when he is already so ill with his breathing.

[Carnival567]

Not easy for you all, wish I could help xx