Dad called. He has very early prostate cancer. So early his Doctor said if he does nothing he has 10 years to live. Dad will be 87 in a couple of months. He was elated with the diagnosis. He is scheduled for MRIs to check other areas, such as the pancreas.
So both parents are healthy for their stage in life so I suppose several issues such as this will come up. I am not asking for anything, just letting you all know.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
As long as he doesn't have problems with the cancer, 10 years is an excellent prognosis.
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Sorry to hear about your Dad, but glad he got an estimate of 10 years to live if he does nothing. Also sounds like a Doctor who has the interests of his patient at heart and not one that wants to "cut at all costs"...
Yes, as we grow older there are more and more problems, some unexpected some that we can figure will happen. Glad your Dad is in good spirits. Sounds like quite a guy.
Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. However, having dealth with prostate cancer, the doctors often dont' recommend treatment as it is often slow growing. And, they said that chemo type treatments are not very effective and that usually, the pt will succumb to natural causes before the prostate cancer will kill them. Now, that isn't all types, just making a point of what I was told by doctors with relatives who had it. So, often they don't really do any treatments. If anything i think radiation is something that helps to shrink cells, etc and is used more often than chemo.
I also went through this with my FIL. My SIL didn't listen to the doctors and demanded he get every possible treatment to eradicate every cancer cell. Well, that was very ill advised and my FIL suffered greatly the side effects of the chemo and it really ruined the quality of his remaining life. I think we hear "cancer" and it does strike fear in all of us. But, consider the real goal at this stage of his life, which is preserving the quality of his years. The doctors are very good about being honest with treatments, course and prognosis.
I'm so sorry and I too agree that he is making the right choice for him. 87 years old and still independent and still able to make choices for himself is such a blessing.
When my Dad got cancer, he did radiation, but declined chemo. It wouldn't have helped, with his type of cancer. And it would have ruined his quality of life.
I'm so lucky, that at 94, my Mom is still able to live on her own. She has health issues, but nothing terrible, considering her age.
I think your Dad is making the right call. He's 87. He's already beaten the odds.
And, 10 years is a long time. I hope he enjoys them.
