So, my dad has prostate cancer.

[strawberry]

Yup. Apparently it's very early and very small, and he's having some relatively newfangled cryotherapy next Wednesday. I am hovering between total freakout and total optimism.

Anyone have any prostate cancer stories along the lines of, "oh yea my uncle had that but he was totally cured by cryotherapy and it was no big deal"?

(You can feel free to skip the "yea my uncle had that and he died horribly after a long protracted illness" stories.)

[Northcott]

I'm going to sound like a broken record, but the reading I've been doing on hormonal research touched on prostate issues more than once, and prostate cancer in specific. They're understanding more about it every day, and when they catch this kind of thing early on the results are often to the benefit of the person with the cancer. Your dad's got a good chance, Strawberry -- and as gamers, we all know how valuable good odds are. :)

[GreyOne]

Hey sorry to hear that. Prostate cancer has a high cure rate if caught early too.

My dad has had 3 bouts of colon cancer and the last one had the colon removed. I know how you feel.

Good karma your way.

[Pigs in Space]

No stories.

:hug:

[Black Angel]

I got nothing also...but good luck and wishes to you both.

[Kwalish Kid]

Yeah, good luck.

It's something waiting for every man, if he lives long enough.

[Blue Eyed Frau]

First I very sorry to hear this about your DAD and the only story I have is my uncle did have prostate cancer and they caught it very early and he had a few chemotherapy or radiation treatments and he is fine and very healthy, best of luck :hug:

[FeatsofClay]

My family has my pops, 2 uncles, a grandfather and a couple of cousins all of whom have had at least one bout of prostrate growths or tumors.

They still chow with us every reunion.

[strawberry]

I love it when you guys tell me exactly what I want to hear. :grouphug:

And now I am a bit calmer so I can expound... so I guess what happened is that his latest PSA was, while not technically high, higher than it was the last time and his doctor biopsied just to be cautious. So yea, it's super early.

So, it does help a lot to hear all these other stories. :) But it is a bit loathsome to hear that your daddy has cancer.

[mollygrue]

lots of stories--ask for specifics if interested--

nowdays it really is a bright future--there are lots of treatments developed within the last few years that resolve the situation with minimal discomfort, and, nowdays even if they do have to do surgery, it is minimally invasive and no longer autmatically a cause for permanent impotance. they can freeze it-- radiate it-- seed it--treat it chemically--there are a lot more tools in the arsenal. just as there has been dramatic improvement in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment-- it truly is not the doom it used to be--there are always risks--but this is an area that has shown marked improvement.

my dear sweet x F.I.L had, over the course of his treatment--11 "core samples" taken- not a pleasant procedure but not nearly the nightmare he had anticipated. hes fine. its been 5 years. hes happy down in the retirement village in florida. i can get his email address if youd like--male to male affirmation for your dad if youd like.--

Its not a picnic, but it will very probably be ok. Honest

[Keeper of Secrets]

Strawberry,

I don't have any stories good or bad but you are certainly in my thoughts.

[TiQuinn]

I'm sending the good vibes your way, Strawberry! I'm sure it'll work out okay. It's really early, and the doctor's are on top of things.

[Sobek]

I had a boss/friend of the family who had prostate cancer when I was in college (a long time ago, when medicine still involved leeches). He was gone for about a month, then back. IIRC, there was some weight loss, but he was still in good shape, even after all the treatments. He definitely made a full recovery (at least for anything I've seen over the last decade+... I ain't asking about the Viagra).

[Ergeheilalt]

No anecdotes beyond my grandmother having it and fighting it off a couple of times. I do not look forward to having to get probed in the pail by the doc, as apparently everyone in my family is supposed to get screened yearly starting at age 30.

Only 7 more years left. :(

[shabois]

My dad had prostae cancer and they used the cryotherapy on him and it was very successful! It is a lot less painful then traditional treatments though it still is not a walk in the park and can have side effects like not being able to get hard again- ever. But on the plus side it will save your life so there you go. Good luck and it I hope it goes well. On the plus side they would not be offering that cryo option if the cancer were not in the early stages.

[Atropine Mama]

Oh, strawberry. :hug: You know he's gonna beat it and make it call him Samantha. If he's half as tough as you are, this cancer ain't got a chance.

No anecdotes beyond my grandmother having it and fighting it off a couple of times.

Your grandmother had a prostate? Did she also have an adam's apple and sing bass? ;)

[Brynja]

My basketball coach had it and it was caught early. He is fine now and playing with his grandkids.

[Ergeheilalt]

Your grandmother had a prostate? Did she also have an adam's apple and sing bass? ;)
Uh, ur. Colon cancer.

It's all in the pooper. What to I know?

[Atropine Mama]

Uh, ur. Colon cancer.

It's all in the pooper. What to I know?

Apparently not much about the pooper! :D

Y'know, strawberry, I've been thinking about this -- does your dad have a good support network? Would he benefit from a cancer support group or anything like that?

[Ancalagon]

Prostate cancer definitely is one of the more curable of cancers, so his odds of a cure are quite good.

hugs,

Ancalagon

[Brynja]

As Bella said support groups are the best. I am in one for women right now and we cover everything from relapses to fertility issues. It is a big help to me to talk to others that understand and know. My friends and family are supportive but it helps sometimes to talk to others who know through experience. I cant tell you how many times I was readied for some procedure by talking to the ladies in my group- HUGE HELP.

[Vizzini]

Yup. Apparently it's very early and very small, and he's having some relatively newfangled cryotherapy next Wednesday. I am hovering between total freakout and total optimism.

Anyone have any prostate cancer stories along the lines of, "oh yea my uncle had that but he was totally cured by cryotherapy and it was no big deal"?

(You can feel free to skip the "yea my uncle had that and he died horribly after a long protracted illness" stories.)
That's what my Dad's going in for surgery on the 4th for. Keep the faith, chin up and all that. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[Limper]

Yup. Apparently it's very early and very small, and he's having some relatively newfangled cryotherapy next Wednesday. I am hovering between total freakout and total optimism.

Anyone have any prostate cancer stories along the lines of, "oh yea my uncle had that but he was totally cured by cryotherapy and it was no big deal"?

(You can feel free to skip the "yea my uncle had that and he died horribly after a long protracted illness" stories.)

Its the easiest to deal with Cancer these days and as such his odds are as good as yours of surviving it.

Best wishes but I wouldn't freakout, half the older guys I know have had it and not one of them has died or had problematics with it.

[Maddman]

My stepdad got melanoma - not prostate, but still cancer. It got into his lymph nodes, so it was pretty serious. THey got all of it with surgery and he's going through chemo now. They can do a lot these days, if you catch it early things really look up. Even chemo isn't like you hear about in the movies. He doesn't lose his hair or throw up all the time or anything. Makes him a little tired sometimes, and sometimes its hard to eat because he can 'taste' the chemicals in his mouth. That's about it.

[strawberry]

Apparently not much about the pooper! :D

Y'know, strawberry, I've been thinking about this -- does your dad have a good support network? Would he benefit from a cancer support group or anything like that?

You know, he really does have a good network of family and friends. And so far, he's been in the best spirits of all of us... he's VERY bad at faking being in good spirits, too, he always gets very grumpy and snippy when he's trying to fake it... and yesterday he was joking with me about his prostate exams. Which was funny as hell, but it's also kind of odd to hear your dad making jokes about his rectal exam.


I really appreciate all the support here, everyone. Sometimes it's hard to think logically about this stuff until you hear the same thing a bazillion times. ;)

[Space Cadet B^3]

My dad had prostate cancer over 10 years ago, he didn't have cryotherapy, but his treatment was successful and he's living a healthy life.

My thoughts are with you, it's great they caught it fairly early before the PSA score shot way up there.

Keep us posted!

[reveal]

No personal stories, but I've read plenty of stuff where they say catching it early means nothing but good things. :D

[mollygrue]

That's what my Dad's going in for surgery on the 4th for. Keep the faith, chin up and all that. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
hope all goes well for you dad, too. it is a challenging time when our parents begin to reach the age where the parts start wearing out --knee relacements, surgeries, daily meds.--your parents are lucky to have kids who care about them so much.

[Ancalagon]

You know, he really does have a good network of family and friends. And so far, he's been in the best spirits of all of us... he's VERY bad at faking being in good spirits, too, he always gets very grumpy and snippy when he's trying to fake it... and yesterday he was joking with me about his prostate exams. Which was funny as hell, but it's also kind of odd to hear your dad making jokes about his rectal exam.


I really appreciate all the support here, everyone. Sometimes it's hard to think logically about this stuff until you hear the same thing a bazillion times. ;)

That's fantastic - I think the threat of prostate cancer is as much as to someone's spirit as to someone's life.

My grandpa caught prostate cancer, and it hit him very hard. He was not an educated man, and all he heard was "cancer". We kept telling him it wasn't bad, but he thought we were lying and got into a deep depression.

So if your father is in high spirits, that is just fantastic.

[Glass]

Good luck to your dad.

[Dawnstar]

Strawberry = You and your father are in my thoughts and prayers. It sounds like they were able to catch it early on so that is good. I hope that he kicks it's ass and gets healthy again soon.

[Atropine Mama]

your parents are lucky to have kids who care about them so much.

That's fantastic - I think the threat of prostate cancer is as much as to someone's spirit as to someone's life.

So if your father is in high spirits, that is just fantastic.

Just wanted to quote these two post for MOTHERFUCKING TRUTH.

Strawberry, you're a goddess. That makes your dad a god amongst men. Sounds like his attitude is perfectly in tune with that role!

[keryn]

I have ot agree with Bella there. From what I know of you, your dad must be an amazing man. I know several people who've been diagnosed with prostate cancer. All of them are still alive and kickin'...and cancer free. Catching it early and being in high spirits are two of the best things that can happen as far as beating this thing. I'll keep my fingers crossed and your wonderful dad in my thoughts. Keep us updated on his progress.

[Kyllikki]

Without any knowledge of your peronality....

My dad also had prostate cancer about 7 years ago now. Had the surgery, had the folow up, life goes on. His recovery was swift and only the usual amount of uncomfortable. He's a rock and is indestructable. His attitude was probably the reason it all went so smoothly.

Hang in there, strawberry.

[Goblin Girl]

I have a friend whose father was diagnosed with prostate cancer 10 years ago. He's fine now. The odds are very good, Strawberry!

[BOZ]

i'm sorry to hear that - i hope he is able to recover.

[strawberry]

My dad had his pre-op today, cryosurgery is next wednesday. I had lunch with my mom and got to hear her utter the words "it goes up the butt," which was probably on my top ten list of things I never though I'd hear her say.

I guess my dad is only supposed to have clear liquids the day before, which led him to claim "well, you can see through beer!"

So although he's starting to get just ever-so-slightly grumpy, he's pretty much doing ok.

[Janos]

Glad to hear that Strawberry!

[mollygrue]

I will be thinking good thoughts for you and your family, stawberry.

[Cat of Ulthar]

Wow Strawberry, I hope everything goes well for your dad and he will be danger free soon.