Caregiver With Prostate Cancer

By ronald71111

1 min read

On October 1st a prostate biopsy showed cancer with a Gleason score of 5+4=9 and a grade group of 5. Acinar type with signet ring cells. Perineural invasion present and high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia present.

I go back to the Urologist on the 21st to go over options! My problem is I'm also the sole caregiver of my wife of 53 years who has suffered from dementia for the last six years. I'm wondering if anyone else has had to decide what options to take for prostate cancer while caring for a loved one.

Ron

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The ProstateCancer.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.

Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
I was also diagnosed with a Gleason 9 and that was back in 2013. I opted for surgery and was functioning fairly well after the catheter was removed . Then in 2018 I underwent 40 radiation treatments + LUPRON for a rising PSA. So far I am still here. PSA 0.01...While we are all different I am more than capable of doing the things that need to be done. And a 25 mile bike ride several days a week is often part of my routine. A cancer diagnosis is scary – that said I suspect (and no one can offer any guarantee) that you will have many years ahead of you to support your wife's needs during and after treatment. Best of luck and keep us posted Dennis(prostatecancer.net Team)
ronald71111 Member
Finished radiation treatment February 2021 but still having harmon shots every 6 months since Gleason score was 9 and grad group of 5. February of this year I had a agent orange disability review that the VA requires after completion of treatment. As I was preparing for a trip to celebrate 55 years with my wife, I received a letter from VA benefits stating I had active malignancy. Attempting to find the reason since my Urologist and oncologist told me treatment was successful, I found out disability reviews performed outside of hospital was not a available. I finally found out I needed to sign a form to send in and get the review findings. I filled out the form a d sent it off after returning from our trip. Now I'm waiting to see why I have active malignancy. Was psa up, was it something else in the lab work or what? Dealing with the stress of caring for a spouse with dementia for the past 8 years and now this is about to drive me crazy. Just need to know! Ron
1. Richard Faust Community Admin
 Hi <inline-mention username="ronald71111" user-id="3269432"/>. It is certainly understandable that you would find this letter referring to an active malignancy disturbing. You may want to reach out directly to your doctors to ask about this issue. I did a little research and there is a chance that this is simply language that the disability office at the VA is using to describe the fact that you are currently being treated (the shots may constitute ongoing treatment). Of course, I can't say specifically that this is what is happening with the language. Our contributor <inline-mention username="Len Smith" user-id="3265970"/> is also a Vietnam Agent Orange exposed vet who has been through the VA disability process, so I'm tagging him in this response in case he has any thoughts/insights. Hoping you can get some clarification from your doctors soon. Best, Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
2. Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="ronald71111" user-id="3269432"/> I have also run into the issue of conflicting and misleading medical reports and agree with Richard on the need to reach out to your MD's. I have some experience with a family member with dementia and discovered our church group was very helpful in finding us find additional support. Hang in there the answers will come soon
ronald71111 Member
Richard, thank you for reaching out to the other veteran. I did ask my Dr. at the VA and it seems like service connected disability reviews conducted outside of the hospital is not available to them. I was concerned not only by the wording active malignancy, but the rating of "permanent and total", which means that its permanent and they dont see chance of improvement. Research I did was that permanent total disability for prostate cancer is rare and assigned on selective cases. Ron
SamuelTaylor Community Admin
We appreciate that input, Ron. Please keep us posted on any developments with disability aid. -Samuel, Team Member