You've read about the kind of year the FH has been having. You know how many times he has been admitted to hospital, and the upheavals we have been through. You have supported and encouraged, uplifted and upheld us through it all. Thank you.
In conjunction with the local surgery, we have been monitoring the PSA marker in his blood; this is all about prostate cancer now. The marker was high a year or more ago, and we saw a specialist, and decided to go for watchful waiting as a pathway. This has involved regular monitoring of the PSA through blood tests. The PSA has been rising, slowly, and the latest has risen quite drastically.
It doesn't mean that he HAS prostate cancer.
We have to think and pray carefully now, and be very sure of what WE want before we allow the doctors to force him into a pathway that he may not want to take. We have talked with our GP about the outcomes in the past, and the specialist was realistic with the FH's medical history, saying that he would be reluctant to treat it if it was cancer because of the impact the treatment might have on his health. He has no symptoms at all - the marker in the blood is the only indication, so there is no impact on his lifestyle whatsoever at the present time.
I am clear in my own mind about what I do not want: I do not want him mucked about with, poked, prodded and cut. I don't want a load of medication prescribed to treat something that may not be life threatening if those medications impact on the medications which keep him alive. I do not want his quality of life as it is now to deteriorate, for something that might not be a real threat to life. As the specialist said last year, plenty of old men die WITH prostate cancer, without actually dying FROM it. He has to think about the biopsy, as that carries a significant risk for someone like him. Does he really want to know, if there is no treatment available anyway?
The FH needs to consider what he wants now, and we all need to respect that. That is what is important, and I will be right behind him, whatever path he chooses. I need you guys behind me.
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15 comments:
Praying for you. WS xxx
You are all in my prayers.
Lesley H in Livingston.
Oh dear, what a decision to have to make. Thinking of you X
You are both in my prayers
Thank you, all of you xx
Hope you are able to work things through and come to a satisfactory conclusion! It's not an easy time, for sure - hubs has been on medication for this for a long time and we've now seen a new specialist who has advised a small surgical procedure, this may enable hubs to come off all medications which is what he prefers. After my treatment finishes later this year, we are booking him in and hoping that this will solve his medication issues.
xx
Oh my goodness, what decisions to make. We are sending positive thoughts from Suffolk and hope things go well.155
My thoughts and prayers go out to you. I think you're making a wise decision.
Having been where you are now, I think you are doing the right thing by just monitoring things and considering the options.My Dad was unable to cope with surgery as he had heart problems and the specialist was not keen to operate for that reason.
Dad weighed up the pro's & con's when he got his diagnosis and would not have any treatment that would affect his quality of life. As he said, what was the point of something that would give him 6 months longer if he had a poor life quality.
As you say "more men die WITH prostate cancer than FROM it"
I hope and pray all goes well for FH and your family
Oh gosh, how hard this must be for you all. I wish you all extra strength that you will need at this time and you are in my thoughts.
Take care x
Praying for you all, Lesley x
Love and prayers xx
In Blogland you know always that your fellow Bloggers, your readers and even the lurkers who we sometimes know nothing about, read posts like this and pray for you.
As someone who's Dad lived with the threat of prostrate cancer for years and came through it all I know the worry of it, follow the doctors advice but go with what is in your hearts too. Your lovely FH will be the one to make the decision, but it sounds as though you are a real partnership and you are right there for him, what more can he ask for.
Thinking of you.
Hope all goes well Morgan, my husband took part in a trial checking his PSA levels and as they had shot up they took a number of biopsies which showed he didnt have cancer but developed septicemia was very ill and lost his hearing in his right ear, so all may be well,will keep you all in my prayers xx
Morgan, you and your family are in my prayers!
Blessings, Bonnie
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