Prostate Cancer Support Group

My dad has metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer. he's been since 2000 on Flucinom, then Androcur, then Casodex. He received 9 cycles of docetaxel, and 11 cycles of Zometa. But he has renal insufficiency, and after his (ex) oncologist put him on estramustine for a month, he felt sick all the time; had nauseas, swalloving problems, he throw up almost everything he ate or drank. And after his last Zoneta treatment, it was so awfaull, he was.nt ate and drink at all ... he is at the hospital now; on infusions ; he has hypocalcemia (Ca 1.80), hypophosphatemia , and hypoalbuminemia, has increased creatinine (244), urea (11), decreased creatinine clearance. He is in bed for almost a month, he went just to the bathroom and a little around his flat ... he is in hospital bed since last tuesday; during this time (since he became very sick, somewhere around November 19th - his last Zometa and estramustine were at November 18th, an dhe vomited the day after. And he is really nervous and irritable ... sometimes he is almost mad at me if I do something he doesn,t want. He was very active, he led very active life, so iti is , I'm sure, such horible thing to be in bed for so long.

He is so nervous. He never used alangetics before, just piroxicam from time to time, and sometimes Zaldiar,but no often. Now, he ws on 300mg of tramadol daily, 5mg of diazepam, and sulpiride. he hardly can has his eyes open, he hardly can speak ... I told them, today they change his therapy, from tramadol, to Transtec patch, and ketoprofen, sulpirid during the day and diazepam over night. He looks stoned, I can+t find better word. They are giving him , via iv., thiethyperazinum, ranitidine, paracetamol , Tazocin (he has urinary infection - I don't know which one), and Oclinomel N4+Decan+Cernevit+vit B1.

He is very weak (I know why). Oncologist said, even his PSA is 1000, he will continue the treatment , after other doctors solve this acute problem ; when his Ca, phosphates and albumine, and creatinine will be ok.

So, does anyone have some advice about this? I coluldn+t find anyone with hypocalcemia/hypophosaphatemia/hypoalbuminemia (I know it can be because of metsastsis, but oncologists said that in his age - he is 79 - no matter his PSA, he coluld live for a few years, because he has other patients. I know now, my father received Zometa and losartan (BP), because his doctors didn,t pay attention to his renal insufficiency.

Did anyone have the same /similar experience?

Thanks,Gigi

Welcome, Gigi. Wow, your dad has really been through the wringer, eh? I haven't even HEARD of most of those drugs, let alone have any experience with them. Hopefully, some of our more long-term guys here can comment.

Meantime, how are you and your family holding up through all this? You need support, too, you know. Are there any PC support groups or cancer-family support groups in your area? These can really help out. My dad died at 78 of PC, and my mom and I found these kinds of groups really helpful in his last year or so.

No, dad is my only family; my mum died 7 months ago; now I live with him; I live in Croatia, and here, really sad - you can't believe it I know , there's no hospice. There is a few little hospital, for chronic disease, but it is almost impossible to get a place there. I'm at the hospital now; in their library, waiting to see what's gonna be later; they said that he'll be moved to another hosppital today, but he felt off the bad 1st night at the hosipital (he was on analgetics-tramadol, high dose, and he never used them before, and he wike up and tried to go to the bathroom;but he is on infusions and cateter, so he felt). They are waiting for CT , because of possible fracture ... and now, they told me, few moments ago, that , if CT results come later, they won't be able sent him to another hospital (but only for 2 weeks, so I have 2 weeks to find out what i'm going to do, will he be at home or where ... some sanatorium, somthing like hospice, I odn't know), and they will send him home. There is some little palliative care, but not much; nurse can come every day for an hour, but not much more. So I'm almost desperate. And I don't earn so much money to pay him some better place, something like hospice ( but her, there is something like a small private sanatoriums, and horribly expensive).

I just don't know ... And - I know it is so selfish, but I'm horrified, afraiding of waht future will bring.

I found civil association for support and help; but it is mostly advices, and I need pratical help - even every helo is better then no help at all.

I'm afraid I won't be able to help him at home, but have almost no other choice.

My aunt (my mothers sister) died at home, she had cancer, but it was 20 years ago, she lived with her 2 brothers (they all were widdows), an my mum and 3rd uncle were with her, one of them every day. But then, our family was big, and now, just me and my dad.

I know, iit sound so selfish, poor me ...

You had that experience, to loose a parent; my muma , thank God, just slept little by little that morning. I think it was a blessing. I don't want him to suffer. I pray (even I'm not sure do I believe in God, but I do believe in somethin, some, I don+t know , force?) for him, that he doesn't suffer, and be peacefully, and I rellay do hope - it is so so so I can't stand myself when I talk about it - he will die the same as my mum ... falling in sleep peacefully.

It sounds so morbidly.

But I think you know what I mean.

Sorry, your English is so good that I just assumed you were here in the States. Sounds rough over there. But you're doing right by your dad--being with him and advocating for him. That's all you can do.