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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 4/22/2008 9:38 PM (GMT -7)
My husband (62) was diagnosed 2/28/08 after a PSA of 279. His biopsy was Gleason 10 on all 12 samples. His prostate is 187 cc and the cancer has metatasized to the bones and is causing severe hydroureteronephrosis to the right kidney with the prostate impinging into the bladder base. This past week-end when he urinated, he filled the bowl with blood over and over again. He has started Lupron injections and Zometa IV (3/28/08). He is going to the urologist at the end of the week to check his bladder. The doctors have said that the Lupron is the only course of action. How do I keep his spirits up when every test he has comes back with such negative results? We are becoming overwhelmed with all this happening in such a short period of time.
Posted 4/22/2008 9:45 PM (GMT -7)
Welcome Hopemylove,

We are here to support each other with information and support. There are several here on hormone therapy that will probably log in with some help.

We all were overwhelmed with our diagnoses but found direction and hope with each other. Please stay with us...

Jim
Posted 4/23/2008 3:35 AM (GMT -7)
Good morning and I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I am sure that many emotions are going thru your minds right now. One thing I continue to tell people as I go around and speak is simply this, we can't deny the diagnosis, but we can defy the verdict. It is imerative now more than ever to try and remain as positive as you can, this is not going to be the last chapter of the book, but it is going to be a difficult one. Thru hope, love, friendships, fellowships, prayer, and peace God will provide you with the ability to deal with this dreaded enemy. We can and will find grace amidst chaos. We are all here for you, and our prayers are with you daily. Please stay in touch with us, and if I can help in anyway let me know.

May the peace and Grace of our lord be with you
Dale
Posted 4/23/2008 4:41 AM (GMT -7)
      Hi ~ hopemylove and Loved Ones,   W elcome     to…    ~ HealingWell ~   and   A    “ Special ”    Warm Welcome   to   You !   Knowledge gives us POWER….   POWER takes away the fear.   ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~     Click   on   link   below for important information that will help you ~ help us!!     >>   Welcome New Members ~ to HealingWell   The information (link) listed above is to help you get around the forum!    v        This is a journey best traveled with friends.  Welcome ~ New Friend from all the members here... on HealingWell.com   v       IdahoSurvivor ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/1313099593_9f819e3ff8.jpg   v       TC-LasVegas ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum   v       bluebird ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb179/mamabluebird1955/mamabluebirdWelcome.jpg
Posted 4/23/2008 4:49 AM (GMT -7)
Hi hopemylove,
And welcome to best place for support I could find on the web. You already know that your husbands cancer is aggressive, but it can be controlled for many years. And hormone therapy is the correct protocol for his given situation. I highly recommend a book for you to read. "Beating Prostate Cancer:Hormonal Therapy & Diet" by Dr. Snuffy Myers. Education is critical to relieveing anxieties and this book has some great information in it. He has extensive experience in treating cases like you husbands and much worse cases that he has treated well. My mottoe is stay positive and I encourage you to do so. There is much work ahead but your husband can do quite well with proper treatment. God Bless and stay close. This site is awesome for support.

Tony
Posted 4/23/2008 6:57 AM (GMT -7)
hope,
You & your husband are going through such a frightening time right now and I would feel the same if in your shoes.
Look at these 2 things:
1. Lupron & Zometa are the course of treatment for where your husband is at - it should drop his PSA level down. My husband is on Lupron and it's working.
2. Your appt. with the urologist will determine a course of action for the kidney & bladder. Take a notepad to the doctors office with you - and use it. Later you'll be glad you did because as you may already know, 2 people can be in on the same conversation but hear things differently.

So, you are doing what you can at the moment.

You have to hold onto whatever can bring you some rational thinking at this point. If it's faith, meditation, talking with a cancer counselor, venting here (we're good listeners), etc. You get my point. You have to be proactive to keep a grip on your peace of mind. There will be bad moments but please don't let them last too long.

cancer is a thief - it will take your peace of mind, heart & soul if you let it. IF you and/or you husband need to seek professional help in that area - get it, get it. get it. It's perfectly normal, after a shock such as this, to need help. Some wait too long and have a much more difficult time than is necessary.

Please continue to post - we care about you both,
Susan
Posted 4/23/2008 8:16 AM (GMT -7)
I echo what the above posts have already said. Tony recommended Snuffy Meyer's book to us as well when we were at a similar stage in our journey and the book couldn't have come fast enough. I ended up buying a couple of copies, one for my husband and I and one for my parents. As Tony mentioned, the book provides case studies of many men that were worse off than your husband that have responded well to treatment. They also have a cook book that he put together on the Medeterrainian Diet that I purchased. The cookbook provides diet ideas that go along with his book.
As Myman (who is a rock) mentions, do what you have to do at this difficult time to get through this. You WILL get through this, try to be as strong as you can and get help where necessary. I went to 99% of my dad's appointments, and I am really thankful that I did. As Myman mentions, you hear different things and I was the tie breaker when my parents disagreed on what they remembered the doctor saying. :) It is A LOT to process.
Keep us posted and we will add you to our HW prayers.

Doting
Posted 4/23/2008 3:46 PM (GMT -7)

Hi,

I am not sure if I am doing this right, but I hope so. I would like to thank everyone for their encouraging words. I am trying to keep a positive attitude yet the past two months have been a bit overwhelming. My friends have been great listeners and my children have been helping to keep their dad in good spirits. We do have a great family humor so that is helping. I will buy the book by Snuffy Meyer mentioned as I am still in my investigative mode and am seeking information constantly (Can I find it online?). As a cancer survivor myself, I have learned how important it is to have someone to go to doctor's appointments and I began a file and notebook with the first doctor's visit. My own doctor always told me how important it is to keep your own records, although it has been a little more difficult to get test results and copies as we go along. I find this frustrating but I am trying to be diligent. One of my husband's major concerns at this point is whether he should retire or to wait it out and hope that he will still be able to enjoy retiement in 3 years. He currently works 6 days a week (driving to Canada) and is only home on Sundays. I want him to make his own decision, but I fear that if he waits to retire, he will miss his opportunity to enjoy the time when it gets here. He already has aches and pains. It is so hard to know how to proceed. I pray a lot and thank everyone here for the added prayers. After reading so many stories on this site, my faith in prayer has been re-confirmed. I am hoping for good news on Friday and I will keep posting as it is nice to correspond with those who understand the journey we have begun. Thank you all again.

God Bless--hopemylove eyes

Posted 4/27/2008 6:22 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Hopemylove: I echo what everyone else has told you.  My husband's diagnosis 2 yrs. ago was a psa of 900, also gleason score of 10. The course of treatment at this point is as the dr. said. My husband started on hormone immediately which brought his psa down. He too had bone pain and aches. It is a shock when told of this disease, and researching cannot be overstated. If you can take  someone with you to the appointments, especially in the beginning that is helpful. There's too much for you and your husband to absorb by yourselves.  Don't hesitate to ask drs. questions, even if you repeat yourself. Staying positive is sometimes hard to do but you need to in order to handle this. Everyone on this site will be here for you and yours so don't ever hesitate to ask questions or just unload emotionally, that's why we are here, to help you through this. You are in my prayers. Lean on us. Your friend, Lifeline 

Posted 4/27/2008 7:34 PM (GMT -7)

The link below will provide the book through the Helingwell book store.  If you are not able to obtaing it that way then let me know and I will find it for you...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0967612926/ref=nosim?tag=crohnsdiseaseweb&link_code=as3&creativeASIN=0967612926&creative=373489&camp=211189

Tony

Posted 4/28/2008 6:19 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Hopemylove:

Keep a stiff upper lip and stay positive. Trust me it help a lot!!

As for brining in a pad of paper and pencil... ask if you can bring in a small voice recorder (tape or digital). My urologist did not mind at all, because it meant I got all his instruction right. Call the doctors office and ask. They know we will only catch one in every 10 words they say.

Good luck.
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