CancerCompass message board discussion started by mspeps on 3/1/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21527,0.htm Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ hi, my  64 year old dad has been suffering prostate cancer for the last 6 years and slowly over the past 12 months his PSA has risen, my dad had a bone scan done in october last year but the cancer at that time had not spread.  Since last October though my dads PSA had started to double and the doctors had said that the hormone therapy treatment was not being effective anymore.  Since New Year my dad has become very poorly and has been admitted to hospital a couple of times due to the pain he has been experiencing in his stomach and chest.  last week my dad had another bone scan which indicated that his cancer has aggresively spread to all of his long bones (spine, legs, arms, ribs etc) his PSA is now 134 and he is so unwell that he now just lays there and feels sick most of the time.  the doctors also had said that they seem to think he might have an obstruction in his stomach.... while my dad was in hospital they gave him 2 units of blood as he was very anemic.  he has now been sent home and he is on morphine.... the doctor did mention a couple of weeks ago (before he had his last bone scan) that there was a possability of him going on to a drug trial but now they have said that he can not due to his liver function test.... i feel i can't plan anything as i dont know how much time my dad has left, and all i see is a frail old man starting to come up in brusies on his arms and face and i dont know what to expect or do...please can somebody help me prepare myself for what lies ahead???? a very worried daughter mspeps Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Dear mspeps, My father also has prostate cancer.  He was diagnosed in Dec 04.  After surgery, it was determined to be Gleason 9, with cancer in seminal vesicles and one positive lymph node.  Until recently, we treated at Hopkins.  We have come to realize that not all doctors are as aggressive as others in treating prostate cancer.  There are many forms of treatment after hormone therapy has failed.  I'm not sure why the doctor your father is seeing has not recommended some other form of treatment.  I found the writings of Dr. Charles Myers to be very informative.  He takes a very aggressive approach to the treatment of prostate cancer.  Do not give up hope and, if your father's doctors are not recommending any treatment, get another opinion.  jak706 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Get him on prostasol quick!!!!  it iwll b e the only thing that will bring his psa down asap!  even if his hormol shots stop working.  also, get him on a very strict cancer tutor.com and cancer prevention.net etc.. no sugar - start juicing everyday several times a day- veggies like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.. also check around your area for local clinics that do vitamin c IV therapy- it works great and will give him energy and it works like chemo on most people! but heatlthy.  he needs to build up his immune system!  my dad is in same situation and the highest his psa was 178 and prostasol brought down to 52 and also we just took his to mexico at the oasis of hope clinic.  no time to waste - get him some where quick while he is still mobile...he might be anemic so have him eat food in rich in iron 0- beans, lentil etc.. supplemts are key..  oxy e, pomegranits, vitamin D3 3-4000 IU, selenium at 600 mg aday.  look at budwig diet as well. ifyou want to email please do so to this message and i will answer what ever you need! thanks sophia Smpal Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT There are other alteratives after the hormone therapy has stopped.  There are alot of trials that he can get in.  My husband is in stage IV, Gleason 10.  He is in a trial at MDA in Houston.  He has had the bone pain your father has had and I know how painful that can be.  He is not having any pain now and the chemo makes him tired for about a week after he has it but he is feeling good and able to do things he likes.  The first thing to do is get him to an oncologist and into a trial.  Dont give up hope.    Ferret Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT dear mspeps. my heart goes out to you as i am in a similar situation as your dad with secondary cancer in the skeletal system and suffering pain.you have been given many suggestions above. they could be helpful. but as i understand your dad seems to be in great suffering with an advanced stage of the secondary.may i suggest that you get him trated sided by side on a homeopathetic ccourse soonest. its not expensive, has NO side effects, is simple to take.please get in touch with a dr.ramakrishnan in new york, get his contact number on the website:www.drramakrishnan.com   may God bless your efforts and your father for a recovery. thevarayan chidambaram Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT My 88 year old grandmother was just diagnosed with secondary bone cancer in her ribs and spine after a relapse of breast cancer last spring. She is much older than your father and very frail, but otherwise very alert and in decent shape for her age. The Dr.s prescribed hormone therapy only. I am her only descendant and my grandfather gets confused at times as he is 90. I am worried about the both of them because they are at home, though they have help. I am wondering if forgoing radiation/chemo is a sign that the Dr.s are just trying to manage the disease and allow her to have hopefully a few more decent years without the upheaval of radiation/ chemo. I am wondering if the decision to forgo the chemo/radiation is a sign that the Dr.s are just trying to manage the disease. Perhaps chemo radiation is a good sign meaning they think they can cure it? My other grandmother also had spinal cancer which eventually disolved a portion of her spine and left her in incredible pain. It was terrible to watch her suffer and I wish the Dr.s would have stopped treating her and prolonging her pain. In the end, she lost touch with reality- very sad to watch. I think there is a time to fight and time to give in. My mother has lived for 30 years with terrible pain from a car accident and managed to just watch me get married. Bone cancer can be treated and cured. However, for the very old and frail, it presents doctors and family with a difficult decision..  rowaytonite Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT