Prostate Cancer, now the journey begins.

drtooheys · Senior Member

RE: Prostate Cancer, now the journey begins.

Possum3 · Guru

Sorry to hear that you're still in pain although a 3 -5 year prognosis is better news than I was expecting - Hang in there Mate, doing your thing, we are always here if you need to vent a bit.

drtooheys · Senior Member

Thats the thing with cancer all can be good then wham one bad blood test and all changes 3-5 years soon becomes 3-5 months so my idea is make hay while the sun shines.

madcart · Senior Member

Sorry to hear your still on that path. Have you tried the medical marijuana fried has had excellent results for pain with that. You don't get the high that you get with the normal marijuana.

Good luck smile

drtooheys · Senior Member

Just an update on whats going on with my battle. My numbers started to go south so there was no option but to start me on chemo. Unfortunately I had a reaction to the first attempt so they pumped me full of steroids hoping that would help with the second attempt. Once again another reaction. Back to the oncologist hoping there would be some other type of chemo but instead she told me there is nothing more we can do. So now its just hoping it doesnt move as she told me if it does it will mean I have the 3 to 6 months. Unfortunately she says the chance of it spreading is extremely likely as I have no safety net in place. Today I'm off to get another PET scan done to see whats going on I have everything crossed for a good result.

Santa · Guru

Good luck with your scan Tony.

I understand exactly what your going through, not a nice place to be.

My thoughts are with you.

Santa.

Tony Bev · Guru

All the best from me also, Tony

I know just a little of what you are going through, as I was fortunate enough, to have come out the other side OK

As others have already said, their are support groups, of men who have been through, the Prostate Cancer jungle

Possum3 · Guru

Tony, not the best news to start the new year - Take it easy, take all the comfort you can get from those around you - I will pray for you and your loved ones.

Ivan 01 · Guru

Wishing and praying for you managing this terrible disease.

Edit:

I was asked to edit this as my dear friend didnt want some details posted on this forum with regard to his health and treatment.

Having said this he sends his best wishes to you and include you in his prayers.

All the best mate, take care.

-- Edited by Ivan 01 on Tuesday 3rd of January 2023 11:22:57 AM

drtooheys · Senior Member

I received the results of the scans back and they were worse than I expected.. The original cancers have grown an I now have multiple new cancers up my spine. So now I plan to just get on with things and enjoy what life I have left.

Possum3 · Guru

Tony, There are no words of comfort that I could possibly express.

It is an insidious disease that can only be managed as best as you can - I truly hope that you are able to find comfort in the fact that many of the GN members are wishing you the best.

Take care,

Blues Man · Guru

Hi Tony , so sorry to hear about your condition , praying for you that you may find peace of mind in knowing that God loves you

and He wants you (and all of us) with him for eternity .The good book says so.

DMaxer · Guru

Hang in there and stay positive.

drtooheys · Senior Member

Got the official results 9 new lesions up the spine 2 new in the scapula also in the lymph node in the groin as well as in the prostate bed This news has floored me.

drtooheys · Senior Member

They are going to try a slightly different type of chemo on me hoping that I wont have an allergic reaction to this one. I have also an appointment with another oncologist as a second opinion. He is supposed to be at the top of the field and has a lot to do with clinical trials as well. I know that the chances of him coming up with a fix are next to nothing but I have to try everything.

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Hi Tony,

My cousin has been in a similar state to you for several years. Cancer has spread to her spine and hips, as well as other spots.

About 12 months back she started on a trial of an American drug, I don't know the name, but while it does not offer a cure it has slowed the spread .

Her last 2 scans (over 6months) has shown no spread.

She wears patches for pain but if the pain is severe in a particular spot she has radiation on that spot only.

There was another trial she agreed to go on, American drug again, but after about 10 weeks she had lost a lot of weight due to not being able to eat much, felt sick all the time so she decided she could not continue with it. She has returned to her condition prior to the trial and is still taking the first drug.

She has never let the condition curtail her life bucket list, always on the move and travelling, to the extent of heading to NZ soon.

Good luck, I hope you can get onto one of the trials, one of them may help you too.

Cheers.

Chris.

Possum3 · Guru

Just take it easy Mate, one day at a time.

RickJ · Senior Member

I am wishing you all the best with your new oncologist. Lets all hope he can come up with the answer to your cancer.

Watching the news from about one day ago and there was a woman featured that had been given a new drug for her cancer.
The drug was from the USA but not on our benefits list.
This drug has worked wonders with her condition and reportedly has her currently in remission.
The down side is that this treatment is $12,300.00 for every dose so in the interim the family has gathered to pay for it. It was reported that this situation cant go on.

It really extends beyond belief that our government in cases like this, plays God with the ability for an Australian citizen to receive any life saving treatments at the whim of some treasurer.

Anyone suffering cancer has enough worry and problems without a proven cure being denied to all but those with millions of dollars.

With cancer a persons wealth is not a controlling factor.

Once again Tony, our prayers are with you. Take care mate.

DMaxer · Guru

As Possum said, just take it one day at a time. None of us know how much longer we have left so just make the most of each and every day.

If there are revolutionary medical breakthroughs, your treating oncologist will know all about them. A relative of mine recently was the beneficiary of one of these new drugs and the prognosis is really good. If there is any on the horizon, your oncologist or several others as it usually comes as a group request on behalf of numerous patients, will make an application to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. If they accept the request then notification is given to the Minister for Health and then in turn to the Minister for Finance for funding. It is extremely rare for funding to be refused. My late mum was to receive a treatment for a different ailment than yours, her treating specialist and others with patients in the same boat made the application and it was approved pretty quickly.

Oncologists in Australia are right up there with the best. If there is something that can assist you then they will soon get the approval. Hang in there.