Topic: Kinda Curious About My Dad.............Saw The Doctor Today.....................

[bill440cars]

     After I lost Brenda last year, I just got so messed up, I wasn't doing much of anything that I had been doing AND needed to do. Example, I had been getting my Dad to doctors for checkups and keeping check of his skin cancers and condition of his feet (being a diabetic).

    Well, After nearly a year, at the time, I finally got to getting my Dad appointments to get back on track with him. He had a checkup by the family Doctor Wed. and they did bloodwork, to include checking his prostate in the blood work. I got a call from the Doctor's nurse this afternoon and was told his psa (I think that was what she said) level was up some and the Doctor needed to see my Dad next week to talk to him. Now, I'm not sure but I'm thinking that we might be talking about possible cancer, with the concern from the Doctor AND needing to talk to him next week. Am I jumping the gun here? I mean, I don't know much about this stuff, but it sounds serious and Dad is approaching his 85th Birthday on the 16th of this month.

[HondanutRider]

Bill, I'm not an expert here (nor a doctor) but I believe the "psa" that you reference is an indicator for early detection of prostate cancer, which when detected early and treated is very successfully eliminated.  I would expect that with you dad's case, this would be a good thing that they have detected early and will now be able to investigate further and treat if necessary.

[BobbyR]

Bill, the current thinking is that the best course in people of advanced age and what are called co morbidity factors, they use what is called "Active Surveillance". There is no point putting a person with serious medical conditions and advanced age through invasive tests and risky surgery. While my own PC was considered a "high risk" it was probably there for 10 years before it showed up in tests, and it would be another 10 years before it caused symptoms. I was 59 at the time and in great health. For a man like your Dad there is no percentage. If you seek a second opinion consult an oncologist not a urologist. You want someone without a Dog in the fight.  

[bill440cars]

Bill, I'm not an expert here (nor a doctor) but I believe the "psa" that you reference is an indicator for early detection of prostate cancer, which when detected early and treated is very successfully eliminated.  I would expect that with you dad's case, this would be a good thing that they have detected early and will now be able to investigate further and treat if necessary.

   Thanks, I knew the subject had been gone over here and especially with  Bobby having it. There's alot I don't k now about things like that, that's why I posted here. AND, I'm not real god with researching things either.

[bill440cars]

Bill, the current thinking is that the best course in people of advanced age and what are called co morbidity factors, they use what is called "Active Surveillance". There is no point putting a person with serious medical conditions and advanced age through invasive tests and risky surgery. While my own PC was considered a "high risk" it was probably there for 10 years before it showed up in tests, and it would be another 10 years before it caused symptoms. I was 59 at the time and in great health. For a man like your Dad there is no percentage. If you seek a second opinion consult an oncologist not a urologist. You want someone without a Dog in the fight.  

   Shows how MY thinking goes. It was AFTER I posted that I realized that it was actually Prostate cancer You had. I knew you had cancer of something. My brain feels fried at times. Like I have said, I'm not real good with researching things and I knew there was alot of info to be had right here. Thanks for getting in on this Bobby.

[bill440cars]

       Well, we saw the Doctor today. A I have heard here, the levels could be up some for any of several reasons. He's a bit skeptical of how far to go with checking him (or having him) checked out. At my Dad's age (will be 85 the 16th of this month) and in his condition (he also has an aneurysm near his stomach, that was left alone because that doctor, who conferred with head Doctors of the Hospital at Conway and Little Rock, AR, decided against trying to even check it out for concern that my Dad wouldn't even survive the procedure), it was decided by My Dad and myself that we would just leave it alone for now and the Doctor will keep an eye on things. In the last 3yrs, he has been in the hospital (at least) 3 times for extended stays AND at east 4 trips to the emergency room. So, he is not wanting to go through anything that will involve that. He figures that he's had a good life and if it's his time to go, then that's it. While I'm not ready for him to go, I KNOW that he HAS had a good life (except for the S & S team) and misses my Mom. Besides, Dad says he feels good and his main problem is he isn't at his home. So, he's not only got the aneurysm, he might have prostate cancer as well. I mean, where do you draw the line at when to stop trying to fix things and just try to give him as comfortable of the remainder of his life, that you can? He has a "Living Will" too and had ME decide THAT, a couple of years ago, after we found out about the 2nd aneurysm. That time, that Doctor told me about his condition and told be to discuss the Living Will with him. So, I did and my Dad just looked at me and said, "YOU decide, that what I've got YOU for.   After I got my thoughts about me, after him saying that, I told him that I knew that my Mom didn't want to be on a machine and I didn't figure he did either and so I said "DNR". Have to tell you all, that I was very uncomfortable with doing that. But, THAT was what HE wanted. 

         Anyway, that's where we stand at the present. 

[HondanutRider]

Bill. it sounds like you've got things properly attended and well thought out.  That's all that your dad or anyone else would want.

[BobbyR]

Bill, here is a snippet from and article that should make you fell better about your Dad's situation.

During 8.2 year’s follow-up, prostate-cancer specific mortality for men with both low- and intermediate-risk disease was 3.6% for men in the surveillance group compared with 2.7% for men treated for the disease. In just those men with low-risk disease, prostate-cancer specific mortality was 2.4% for men under surveillance vs. 0.7% for men in the curative group.

Although the risk for prostate cancer-specific death was decreased among patients in the prostatectomy group when compared with the surveillance group, the absolute risk difference was moderate between the two (1.2% at 10-year’s follow-up).

Here is the full article http://www.hemonctoday.com/article.aspx?rid=65693
 

[bill440cars]

Bill. it sounds like you've got things properly attended and well thought out.  That's all that your dad or anyone else would want.

  Well thank you. My Dad DID put me on a Healthcare Power Of Attorney as well as a Durable POA and doesn't hesitate to pass the decisions to me. Now, while it makes me feel good that he trusts me with his life decisions, it also makes me very nervous about some of this. But, I just do the best I can, while trying to keep in mind what his wishes are.

[bill440cars]

Bill, here is a snippet from and article that should make you fell better about your Dad's situation.

During 8.2 year’s follow-up, prostate-cancer specific mortality for men with both low- and intermediate-risk disease was 3.6% for men in the surveillance group compared with 2.7% for men treated for the disease. In just those men with low-risk disease, prostate-cancer specific mortality was 2.4% for men under surveillance vs. 0.7% for men in the curative group.

Although the risk for prostate cancer-specific death was decreased among patients in the prostatectomy group when compared with the surveillance group, the absolute risk difference was moderate between the two (1.2% at 10-year’s follow-up).

Here is the full article http://www.hemonctoday.com/article.aspx?rid=65693
 

   Thanks for the info AND the link Bobby. I felt like this was the best course, all things considered and this seems to back it up. I can get some relief in that.

[tramp]

hard thing to do is let a parent have thier wish even though it's not what you want
sometimes you want to go with dignity, not in a hospital

[bill440cars]

hard thing to do is let a parent have thier wish even though it's not what you want
sometimes you want to go with dignity, not in a hospital

   Yeah Tramp, you are right. Also, since he has me on the Healthcare Power Of Attorney, he basically has ME make the decision. But knowing HIS feeling, it really IS HIS will. He HAS had a good life and does not like hospitals and tests, but then WHO does? Doing MY best to make HIM a part of the discussion with the Doctors, unlike the S & S team, who kept him in the dark!