Prostate Cancer Support Group

I am 28 year old female and just found out my 56 year old father has prostate cancer. He was just diagnosed today after having raising psa levels and a biopsy last thursday. I am very scared and I am just looking for help about this cancer. No one in my family has had cancer, so this is very surprising to us. I guess you always think it's never going to happen to you! But it did, and now I need help. My father is a very quiet man, and does not show how he feels very often, so I'm afraid this is going to be very tough for him. Any suggestions on how to help him cope? I am so sad right now because I just don't know what to do, or what the outcome is for this type of cancer. Any help would be great! Thank you!

Sorry to hear about your situation. We don't know where to start. What is the PSA and Gleason score? Is it stage 1 or 4? I have advise, but it is just that advise. If I knew a little more maybe I could give a lay person's advise. We all wish you the best. Stay in contact.

You might want to look at previous posts as well as profiles.

Hi,

I was 54 when I found out that I had prostate cancer. I reviewed my options and chose to have robotic surgery to have it removed. I was a level 3A and am now cancer free. The recovery was slow but was able to resume my normal life with some restrictions and changes after 6 months. Your fathers life will change but the good news is that, if they caught it early, he can be completely rid of the cancer.

John

Thank you all for the quick responses. I was just told last night about my father, so I don't have alot of info. The only thing I know is that he had 3 postitive biopsies out of 12, and the doctor called him last night and said he has stage 1. My mom is calling today to get more info and find out what the next step is. I will find out the psa levels and gleason score to give you all more info to go on. Thank you very, very much! I'm hoping for the best because I'm very afraid my father is going to be down, and not attack this with a positive attitude.

Jeni,

I was 51 last summer when I found out I had prostate cancer. My PSA was 2.8, and my Gleason score was 6. I had Brachytherapy done on July 1 of last summer. They implanted 160 radioactive seeds into my prostate. The procedure was the least invasive, and while there are some side effects I am recovering well. I have only 3 months left of radiation... mine last 10 months. I have stay a foot away from my wife, dogs, babies, and pregnant women for the 10 months. I have to take Flomax to keep the swelling of the prostate to a minimum. Perhaps the hardest thing for me is the having to get up from 3-10 times a night (less now than earlier) to go to the restroom. There is irritation in the bladder area from the implants and irritation in the bowels from the radiation, so there has been some discomfort there! But things are better now, I am getting a little more sleep however it will take time to completely recover my missed rest! Have your father look at all of the treatment options, Brachytherapy might be good for him as well! Let me know if you have any questions

Bruce

Hi Jeni,

If your dad is stage 1 that means his cancer is confined within the prostate gland itself!!

This is good news and nothing to be depressed about,his chances of recovery are excellent and he's lucky it was found at such an early stage.

I was also Stage 1 and had robotic surgery in July,my psa level is undetectable at this time.

Get to know your enemy(PC) and understand what's involved in treating your dad,do research and make sure he has an experienced surgeon.

His urologist will most likely recommend robotic surgey being he's stage 1.

This link will help you understand what's involved and may answer some questions you have.

http://www.urologicinstituteofnj.com/ roboticprostatectomy.html

Again,don't get bummed out,be glad for your dad.He's got a lot of years left.

Best wishes,Tony

Post edited by: ubedarn, at: 01/27/2009 14:23

Hi Jeni,

I'm 55 and had robotic surgery almost a year ago. You have gotten good advice from everyone concerning the diagonosis and treatments. My wife and I both work in the medical field ( R.N and nurse practitioner)and discovered one thing. How little we knew about the day to day life we were going to live. You reaching out shows the concern you have for your dad and never get discouraged because he will have good and bad days regardless of the treatment. Being a quiet man myself, it is hard to express how PC has changed my life but my wife has said repeately "we will always talk regardless". That may be hard for him but you will be the caring listening ear he needs. His thoughts will make his ear hear dispair at times. Heavy burden for you but that is what love does.

My best,

Barry

Post edited by: BearRivers, at: 01/28/2009 18:48

I have been very busy hanging out with my parents and siblings while we all deal with this damn thing called cancer, so I'm sorry if I don't reply quick or directly to anyone. But I will have you all know that I check my email on my phone every half hour to see if I have any new messages that will help me feel better about the future of my fathers process with p.c. I told my dad about this page last night and gave him some of the responses that were sent to me. They made me feel alot better so I thought I would pass it on to him, cause he needs the reassurane more than anyone right now! I have alot of crazy feelings that I can't explain right now. Sometimes I think I'm sad, but then I find myself saying hateful things and being angry! I'm angry that it had to happen to my family, ( We have already paid our shitty dues in the life process of grieving! My brother was paralyzed in a car accident 4 years ago, and had to learn to walk again, my sisters fiance died in a car accident 2 years ago, my boyfriend and I broke up last year and he became verbally abusive to me and threatening, then my mom and dad had to give cpr to my uncle that had a sudden heart attack, he died, my father was closest to him. All of those things really put alot of stress on my family and especially my father! Isn't that enough?)... a family that is so amazing and loves each other more than any family I know, I'm angry that mean and hateful people never seem to have bad things happen to them, and I'm the most angry that so many people act like there little problems are so big and that I should feel sorry for them, and I don't! Is that wrong, am I the inconsiderate person? I just don't understand how people can be so selfish! ??? I hope that makes sense, my thoughts are everywhere! Ok, sorry, just want to get over this hump of the unknown and start to help my father move forward! Monday he will have a bone scan to make sure the cancer hasn't spread anywhere else, and Wednesday my parents will sit down with Dr. Guigoen (?) to talk about results and options and he will then refer him to an ocologist that can help him with his decisions. I told my mom to consult with an oncologist also. (thanks to advice from you all) So please pray for my father that the cancer is confined to the prostate itself and that he will keep up his spirits! I love my father and mother more than anything, and my father has not even begun to experience all the great things there are in life, and how much more we can give him as a family! Thank you all for listening and for all your helpful advice so far! It means more than I can say in words!

JEN

Jeni they are correct. Hang with it. It will get much better. We wish you the best. If we can answer any questions, please.

hey Jeni - just a little note to tell you we all Love you and your family.

Post edited by: ray2135, at: 01/31/2009 12:12