Metastatic advanced prostate cancer
Hello All,
I read some good discussion about cancer treatments and support on this forum and got inspired to ask a question for my Dad's cancer condition.
My Dad had cancer detected long ago in throat and from biopsy it was detected as prostate cancer. He got prostate gland removed and later after 10 years he got PSA high to which prostate was removed completely after further diagnosis.
He was on hormonal therapy for about 2 years after that PSA started rising again and he was suggested chemotherapy due to PSA increasing and that went for 5-6 months after which Doctors found he has cancer spread in bones near by prostate from PET CT scan. He got a radiation therapy dose nearby prostate area.
Further after 2 months he started getting pain in spine and very soon he was not able to stand. After MRI doctors found it spread in spinal cord (E😎. He got radiation therapy for that location and after 3 months he is still on bed (not able to walk).
Now from his latest MRI cancer shows up advancing again and Doctors are suggesting not to take much action and let him spend his rest of time peacefully. They gave all different pain killers to reduce pain.
My Dad is 76 now and he has PSA around 3 right now. He is otherwise strong but he has back pain and not able to stand/walk due to metastatic that is spread on spinal cord.
Since he is on bed, I feel bad that he anyways is not comfortable so seeking for some advice/suggestion on what other treatments are there out that can help in his condition.
Is there any possibility to remove cancer lump on spinal cord that is causing him not to walk? surgery option or anything else?
Is there any other treatment/therapy (proton/radium 223 etc.) that can help reduce cancer on spinal cord?
I would appreciate any suggestion on this front.
Thanks for your help.
Hi
. So sorry to hear about your father's condition. I can't speak to your father's particular case (we are not doctors and, for your protection, can not give medical advice over the internet), but it certainly seems that it couldn't hurt to get a second opinion - another set of eyes on the case. It is interesting that you mention the radium-223. It has both palliative and therapeutic benefits. This is only anecdotal, but our contributor Len has an acquaintance who had fantastic results. In addition, there is now what is called a PSMA scan available, which can pinpoint metastatic prostate cancer. This article provides further information: https://prostatecancer.net/clinical/psma-imaging-scan. There are radiation therapies that can be delivered with this scan and it can help in treatment decisions (see: https://ro-journal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13014-022-01989-5). A doctor should be able to explain if these are options. I honestly don't know the extent these things may be viable for or help your father, but it is great that he has you advocating on his behalf and looking for options. Please feel free to keep us posted on how things are going and to ask addition questions. Wishing you the best. Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team) Hi Richard,
Thanks for helpful information. I think I am looking at two conditions of my father's health. One is prostate cancer and another is particular MSCC. I am more worried for MSCC as it is not letting him stand/walk. I was thinking of having some surgery for MSCC part and then based on feasible options xofigo (Radium-223). I will discuss with my Dad's doctor to check what other options are feasible.
Again thanks for suggestion and I will post how things go further.
Thanks,
Ketan
