Comments on: I have a 60 year old with Stage IV Prostate Cancer diagnosed 4 years ago. What can I expect from now?

By: sunflowers

sunflowers — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:15:59 +0000

People can live a long time with prostate cancer with the right treatment regimen. But if he is on morphine for pain, that is usually given in the last stages of cancer when the pain gets really bad. I don’t know what he is "helping out" with, but maybe he should be allowed to rest more and chill out a bit. Is there anything he can do to take his mind off of cancer and pain? Hobbies? Fishing? Needlework? Gardening? Movies? Going out to eat? Going to a concert? Shopping/Window shopping (at flea markets and thrift stores if cost is a factor)? Something that isn’t too taxing.

He might try attending a cancer support group with a friend or family member and/or contacting hospice for assistance (if he has a prognosis of 6 months or less to live). Hospice can be a lot of help with the "helping out" stuff. Support groups can be invaluable in getting feedback from other people who are going through the same cancer "stuff" that he is.

Call the American Cancer Society or ask his chemo doc about prostate cancer support groups or general cancer support groups.

He is probably sweaty from the morphine side effects. Morphine is good at controlling pain, but it will cause him to take life at a slower pace…along with the cancer also slowing him down a bit.

You could try googling "Gerson Therapy" or "Dr. Max Gerson". He pioneered at treatment that helped a lot of people with different diseases using fresh fruit and vegetable juices and a mostly vegetarian diet. I don’t think much of the coffee enemas part of it, but I don’t see how adding fresh fruit and vegetable juices could hurt anything. Ask the chemo doc first if it is okay, though.

Here is another link to clinical trials for prostate cancer. Click on the map tab to find local trials.
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=prostate+cancer

He could also try Cancer Treatment Centers of America, which do some alternative therapies.
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By: Tsunami

Tsunami — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:05:59 +0000

it does not sound good but then again my hubby had it and had a 7 start out and he went to 16 and with haveing 3 cancers and this mess well he finally died. i mean its hard to say hes been with it for 4 years and maybe he'll be ok and win i am not sure why not rely on the doctorand ask them you can call them if you want to. it depend on how youare realted to this man also.
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By: shelley_gaudreau2000

shelley_gaudreau2000 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:35:59 +0000

Unfortunately there is only one long term prognosis with out treatment. Your best bet is a clinical trial. You might be able to find one you’d be suited for here.
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/trials/trials/selectsearch.asp.
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Cancer survivor.

By: Skittles are M & M wannabees

Skittles are M & M wannabees — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:59:59 +0000

My father was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2000. At that time, his PSA was 250 and the cancer had already spread to his bones. He began hormone therapy treatment (Lupron Depot and Casodex) and his PSA dropped to less than one. He did real well on these two treatments until about April of 2007 when he really started to go downhill. Sadly he lost his battle with cancer on January 8, 2008.
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By: Diamond

Diamond — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:46:59 +0000

please talk to the people who know
http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/
there is a message board where you will get support from others
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By: jackie m

jackie m — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:02:59 +0000

I saw and item on the yahoo homepage news yesterday about a new pill that has cured 2 men from prostate cancer but cant find it, see your doctor because at stage IV there wont be much tome left. Good Luck
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By: kid on the block

kid on the block — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:48:59 +0000

Read recent study from Mayo Clinic published in last week. This is a clinical trial but results have been promising and they are hoping to extend it.
Realistically the prospects are not good and you are working on symptom management.
Start to think of positive activities which make this period more an achievement than a defeat. Are there people you would like to catch up with, places which you have wanted to visit and never got round to (especially locally), projects which could be completed (even if you help)
Good luck to you both.
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By: man290663@btinternet.com

man290663@btinternet.com — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:01:59 +0000

there is a medical trial that involves monoclonal antibodies being injected that ahs been shown to shrink tumours try as hard as you can to get on this trial!!

http://article.wn.com/view/2009/05/31/Cougar_Biotechnology_Presents_Positive_CB7630_Abiraterone_Ac/
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By: ed b

ed b — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:18:59 +0000

. Hi IM going to be honest with you. With stage IV cancer there is not much hope. Try and keep him as comfortable as you can. I don't think that further chemo will work. I am not a Doctor but I have seen people suffer from cancer It's not Pretty. Im sorry.
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