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5 Replies Last post: 01-Jun-2009 22:25 by Goldenbird

Prostate and secondry bone cancer as well as dementia, help!

28-May-2009 22:30

spongebob23 4 posts since
28-May-2009

My grandad has been diagnosed with prostate and secondry bone cancer, he is 87. He fell and broke his hip and when the operation was done they discovered the bone cancer. They have taken a biopsy and done a bone scan nearly 3 weeks ago but we still don't have the results of these does anyone know long these take??? He has very high PSA (I think thats the term they used!) and this is how the prostate cancer has been detected. They are recomending hormone treatment and radiotherapy, but the radio will only be done if my grandad can fully understand what needs to be done as he will have to lie still. He also has dementia and we can not explain anything to him as he doesn't understand he also resorts back to his native language which myself and my mum don't speak unfortunatly, we have tried to get one of my polish friends to speak with him but it still doesn't register that he is in a hospital let alone what is going on with his other health issues.

Goldenbird 1,438 posts since
16-Sep-2008

1. 29-May-2009 09:26

in response to: spongebob23

Re: Prostate and secondry bone cancer as well as dementia, help!

Hi Spongebob

This would appear to be a dire situation. Particularly if he has dementia and can't understand what is going on. Secondary bone cancer presumably came from primary prostate cancer and yes PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is correct. However, he has obviously lived a long life which must be some comfort.

I guess the only thing to do at this stage is to see that he is made as comfortable and pain-free as possible. The hormone treatment will help for a while but what is the point of putting him through radiotherapy, I wonder. Sounds as though the cancer has spread quite a bit. However, I think the thing to do is to talk to the oncologist and determine whether there is any point in subjecting him to treatment (radiotherapy) that may only prolong his life for a short time. It is a terrible situation indeed and just talk to oncologist to see what is best. Of course if he hadn't got the dementia then he could decide for himself.

I hope you and your Mum can do something that lets him live out his life in a comfortable fashion but DO talk to oncologist to see what is best. Results from bone scans do not take long and if you wish to know the results then pester them so you can begin to make some decisions.

Judith

spongebob23 4 posts since
28-May-2009

2. 29-May-2009 22:20

in response to: Goldenbird

Re: Prostate and secondry bone cancer as well as dementia, help!

Hi Judith

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply to my message. I agree with you about the radiotherapy part as I do not think his quality of life is anything now he doesn't understand anything and it is very difficult for my mum to watch this, it was bad enough with the dementia and now this on top has really knocked her for six unfortunatly.The hospital have really been not not much use as we have had hardly any information about anything his bone scan and biopsy were done 3 weeks ago and we were told nothing about these except the results take time! Time is obviously something which we are short of! The only information we were told was in a phone call to my mum to tell us he had cancer after he had his hip operation. My grandad is so confused about where he is as he thinks he is back in the war and this is what happened to his leg. Time will tell I suspose and hopefully we will get the information we need, once again thank you ever so much for taking the time to reply to me.

Take care

Nicola

Goldenbird 1,438 posts since
16-Sep-2008

3. 29-May-2009 23:10

in response to: spongebob23

Re: Prostate and secondry bone cancer as well as dementia, help!

Oh heck Nicola what a terrible thing especially for your Mum. They know these results and I'm telling you they really do and they are prevaricating or the results are waiting on a computer and kick them to hell so as you know what is going on! DO NOT PUT UP WITH IT as I know so many cases on this site and from personal experience (not mine, fortunately) that some of these medics are dur brains and pester the life out of them until they come forth with info about this because believe me they know the info and are simply just not telling you or are majorly stupid. Poor chap but it won't work out very well but at least they could tell you and just keep on and on about it to the silly people. At least then your Mum could come to terms with the situation.

Judith xx

spongebob23 4 posts since
28-May-2009

4. 01-Jun-2009 22:09

in response to: Goldenbird

Re: Prostate and secondry bone cancer as well as dementia, help!

Hi Judith

I have spoken to my mum about getting some answers and she is going to phone them tomorrow. I made her read what we had been saying on here and I think it made her realise a few things about whats going on. Again thanks very much for your support and advise its great to be able to speak to someone about it. Thanks again

Take care

Nicola

Goldenbird 1,438 posts since
16-Sep-2008

5. 01-Jun-2009 22:25

in response to: spongebob23

Re: Prostate and secondry bone cancer as well as dementia, help!

And take care yourself and take care of your Mum because it shouldn't happen like this and they are very busy people or more probably too insensitive. Just keep on pushing for info and do not take NO for an answer at all and if all else fails there is a complaints procedure at hospital. I've had the greatest treatment possible at my end but reading some of the stuff on this site makes you realise that some things are not good and futhermore some of my friends have had naff dealings with medics.

I hope you manage to get some answers very soon and take care of grandad and your Mum.

J x

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