Hello everyone - I'm new to the board

Hello to you all

I just signed up today after reading many of the supportive and warm comments made by members

My husband, aged 59, was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had a gleason score of 8, PSA of 17 and, after a bone scan and mri, been told he has the cancer metastasised (SP?) to spine, neck, ribs, pelvis and buttock. Also to seminal vesicle (I had never even heard of this before his diagnosis!)

We are really in shock as he had no symptoms prior to an acute urinary retention episode, and remains asymptomatic now still. We have 16 and 18 year old girls who are really fearful for their dad :(

He has been given hormone treatment which I guess is pretty standard. We wont know if this is effective until he has a psa test in November.

I wondered how other people cope with this terrible waiting game. I don't know but I think the first psa test is really crucial for determining how successful the hormone therapy will be?

Anyway, I'm so pleased to have found this friendly looking board as it is difficult to talk to people who don't know much about prostate cancer. I know people are trying to help but if we've heard one person say "Oh, prostate cancer, it's nothing" we've heard a dozen!

Sorry for the long intro

Julia

 

Hi Julia , We are sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis.  There are many others on this forum with much more experience than I have with the disease, who can help you with specifics.  My purpose, like Mike, is to welcome you and tell you that we will be here with our support and prayers. The most important thing for you and the children right now is to have hope.  Hope can be gained by the support of the good people here, by your faith, and by gaining knowledge.  For the knowledge part, my urologist/surgeon gave me a wonderful book to read that helped me tremendously.  Many on this forum have also read Dr. Walsh's book and you can find a reference to it and other helpful books at this link: BOOKS... Recommended by Forum Members   Chapter 12 of Dr. Walsh's book entitled "Help For Advanced Prostate Cancer" may help your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you on this journey. Please feel free to express your feelings and ask as many questions as you like.  We will be here. All the best, Barry (a.k.a. Idaho)

Hi Julia,
Sorry you have to search out a support group but you found a good one. Healingwell has some great people hanging around and they will all respond you. The hormone treatment is indeed standard. My numbers are not too far off from your husbands. I too hear people say prostate cancer is "the good one". But no cancer is less than very serious. Insensitive comments like that are merely a result of ignorance and an attempt to make us feel better. Reality has it that your husbands condition is serious. But stay positive and believe in continuing on as you and your husband normally would. PC is known as the silent killer as it usually does not have symptoms. In my case it was a simple extra test at a physical that caght my advanced disease. Otherwise nothing. Not a pleasant surprise. And my case is not "the good one". Still I am doing well and will continue on as I always have. Blessings to you and your family. Ask any question here and you will likely receive a very usable answer. Our prayers are for you, your husband, and all here at this site.

Tony

Hi ~ MissyJ, Just a little note to say "hi"... You truly have found a "special" place!! We welcome you and look forward to walking with you on your journey. It's a journey best traveled with friends who know!! You can write as much or as little as you need to help you!  The more we know the better we are to understand the exact location in your path... Our hands reach out and we are so thankful you holding on!! Please plan to stay close. In New Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy

Hi Julia

I am so glad you found this group of caring people. I truly wish none of us had to be here but were all here for each other. This is a safe place to talk about your feelings and discuss what the docs tell you and your husband. I have found by reading other peoples post I have alot more questions to ask the doc that I would not have otherwise thought of. Here is a group of very knowledgable people who really do care. Welcome to the group and ask away. You will get answers.

Our prayers will be with you and yor family.

Rick

Dear Julia, I am wishing you a lot of strength. about 2 months ago, my husband (53) and I were in the same situation you are in now. Despite an almost complete lack of symptoms, he turned out to have a PSA of 1,930 and wide spread mestases (bones and lungs). Like your husband, he was put on HT immediately (Lupron) and the side-effects are merely a nuisance. You'll be surprised how quickly you'll find that life goes on, you just have to take it one day at a time. The first PSA test will tell you whether your husband responds to hormone therapy, but most of the time people do. Take care, Dutchy

Dear Julia,

Again as previous posters have said, welcome to the club that nobody wants to belong to. You will find an outpouring of hope and experience on Healingwell, there are many, many posters that have been exactly where your husband is. I'm sure at this time you are going through many emotions, what do I do next, how serious is this stuff, is he going to be alright, etc, etc... These are all normal feelings and you and your better half will work your way through all of them. My advice to you is to read, read, and then read some more, learn all you can about pca and the many treatment options available today. When you get discouraged come to the board and let it out, I guarantee you that you will get many responses that will help you in your decision making process. There are many of us on this board that are taking Hormone therapy, myself included. Tell your hubby to hang in there, have a positive attitude and do a lot of praying, and you'll be alright......good luck to you both...jwb.

Hey Julia,

I'm so glad you found hope here. Isn't it great to know that we have a place to find information, hope and a place to let it all hang out.

We can do this together. Please stay with us for we need you as much as you need us...

Jim

Just wanted to add my welcome. Sometimes the darkest time is when you feel so alone and so out of control. Knowledge truly is power, especially when you're facing this da*ned disease. The great thing about this forum is you can ask anytning and somebody will have useful information, even if it's just a tidbit to get you started in learning what you need to know. Stay with us and hang in there. You and your husband can beat this thing -- or at least keep in under control. Have faith.

Julia,

Hope you and your husband are doing well. I ran across this and it contains some of the best info available. I started under the Resources heading. Hope it helps. Stay positive!

Good Luck!!!!

Eric

http://urology.jhu.edu/prostate/cancer.php