So my older brother has prostate cancer

[Garion_55]

Not the greatest news to wake up to in the morning.

He is in his mid-50s never smoked legal or illegal anything

Loves to drink his dark Ales. Bakes his own pies and breads lots of starches.

He is a big red meat eater. Loves to eat ribs and chicken and steaks. He is a judge every year for a BBQ season-long competition so he eats a lot of meats during the competition months.

Doesn't exercise a lot his job requires him to sit at a desk most of the day.

Doctor says they caught it early and he has to do some kind of surgery thing this week or next. Maybe some chemo. I don't know. After hearing cancer I kind of tuned out and didn't really want to deal with it.

I'm sure people on here have had it dealt with it dealt with family members who have had it yes? If it's caught early treated early it has a high survivability rate?

That was bad enough but for it to happen during this whole virus crap makes it even worse. We are here in Northern Virginia so it's not super bad but it's still scary for him to have to do this while the virus is floating around.

Anyway hope everybody out there is having a better day

[TEB]

1. Sending you all good thoughts

[soothsayer]

3. Same

[secondwind]

2. My dad had prostate cancer. He lived another 20+years

[samnsara]

4. my husband had a second kidney cancer surgery in Seattle right at the apex of their infection..

... Since no one is allowed in the hospital excepy the pt, I stayed put in a near by hotel. Ubered with him over there to hand him off at admission then came back to the hotel where i stayed for 3 days. It seemed very safe. Altho I couldnt go with him to the surgery and had to wait for a Drs call to see if he even made it. Then he discharged and ubered to the hotel where he slept for about 2 days before we drove the 2 hrs home ( I dont drive in Seattle traffic)

All in all it was pretty safe and we were impressed. I was actually the only one in the whole hotel.

Other than the fear of the cancer itself your brother shouldnt fear going to the hospital....and I know ppl who had prostrate cancer surgery 15 years ago and they are still up and about.

Good luck to your brother...trust the dr!

(((hugs))) I hope your day gets better....

[PCIntern]

5. Did it leave the "capsule"?

[Norbert]

6. My brother is a 15 year prostate cancer survivor

He has never had a relapse. His was caught early which is the key. He is technically overweight (I think it is BS) but looks good. He has been doing KETO which helps keep his weight down.

My father had prostate cancer too but it was in the more advanced stages. We didn't know that much about prostate cancer at the time and that probably contributed to him not being a survivor. I consider my dad's sacrifice a gift to us because it raised our awareness and the need for regular checkups.

Best of luck to your brother and give him plenty of support. Sounds like he should be okay but, like in my brother's case. it does require medical attention.

[mercuryblues]

7. My FIL had it about 25 years ago

He had one relapse. Unfortunately he had side effects from the treatment then, but they weren't life threatening.

Yes, if it is caught early it does have a high survivability rate. As long as your brother stays on top of it to catch if it comes back, that too is treatable.

[uponit7771]

10. How long did you FIL live after treatment? tia

[mercuryblues]

14. 25 + years

He's still alive.

Regrettably he was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer almost a year ago. I know exactly how you feel, we can't be there for him since Covid began. I would be mortified if we caught Covid on our way to see him and gave it to him. Fuck republicans.

[uponit7771]

15. "Fuck republicans." .. right !! What stage is the Pancreatic Cancer in? Sorry for the all the ...

... questions but I'm middle age and looking at my mortality and CV19 brings it up constatly.

You know, what are insurance companies saying ?!

Somethings funny in the financials, airlines should be screaming about Trumps stupidity.

[mercuryblues]

16. We don't know

He has chosen not to treat it. A year before that he found out that he has heart blockages, where surgery would be very risky because of his age, severity and location. He just turned 89 years old.

[uponit7771]

17. Ah, 90 is a good age ... lots of hugs towards your loved one. P.S. 150 would be better, I digress

[mercuryblues]

19. Oh and what a life that is

He grew up depression and WW2.

Just to tell you what kind of man he is. During the Korean war his brother, who had a wife and child on the way drew a low draft #. As soon as my FIL graduated high school he enlisted, so they wouldn't draft his brother.

[uponit7771]

20. Amen !!

[Tech]

8. My husband was diagnosed with it in his late 50's, decided on radiation. His numbers are terrific.

My brother in law was diagnosed at the same time, and has taken the wait and see approach. He is also doing fine. Good on your brother for getting screened. Good luck to him.

[Demsrule86]

9. So sorry...They can do so much now ... Hub's Uncle had it for years and died of

old age. Fingers crossed, good vibes, and prayers...throwing every good thing I can think of your way.

[uponit7771]

11. Sucks but looks like they caught it early and that's a good thing

[a kennedy]

12. Damn. Fairly young to boot. Just damn. Sending healing vibes and positive thought

for your brother and you. Here’s hoping he gets through with the love of all his friends and family.

[MissB]

13. My dad had it in his late 70s

It’s a very treatable cancer apparently. He’d reached his lifetime limit on radiation and his treatment back then included hormones I think (iirc).

He died in his 80s. Serious Alzheimer’s and when the prostate cancer kicked back up, they decided not to treat it. So in the end he died of it but only because it was the lesser of two evils. He was quickly going downhill mentally so while they could’ve treated the cancer it just didn’t make any sense.

I expect your brother will have a long life.

[lark]

18. Prostrate cancer is the most survivable of all cancers, from what dr. told us w/dad.

His friend had it for 20 years before he ever needed surgery and was fine afterwards and lived for many years. Dad's was not typical, it was way more aggressive. Hope your brother has the normal kind.

[Disaffected]

21. Had it diagnosed about 14 years ago

It was caught early with no sign of spread. Had it exorcised (removed surgically) and have been fine ever since.

Early detection is key but, even so, the great majority of prostate cancer victims will eventually die of other causes.

I'm not aware of any common chemo treatment but radiation is typically applied after surgery if the cancer has moved beyond the prostate capsule itself. Or, sometimes radiation only is utilized - I was given a choice and chose surgery as radiation can have some serious, longer term side effects. Each has pros & cons.

Your brother's urologist will outline the available options.

[Coventina]

22. My dad was diagnosed in 1997.

He had his prostate removed. It was caught early enough that he did not have to have any further treatment.

He's still cancer-free



Best wishes to your brother.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

23. Received a prostrate seed implant in 2010,

83 radioactive seeds, still kicking around.

Al

[malaise]

24. The good news is that he caught it early

[OriginalGeek]

25. I had my first colonoscopy 2 and a half years ago in my early 50s

Doc found 6 polyps which he said was a lot but they all came back negative.

He took them all out and no issues there BUT he told me if I have any siblings that haven't had colonoscopies they need to go sooner than later. It can run in families and that many polyps is a warning sign for all of us. One of my younger brothers took that advice and got checked at 49 years old and they found beginning stages of cancer but they did surgery and got it all and he seems to be fine now.

We both get to go in for checkups more than the regular recommendation but that doesn't bother me a bit. I don't even mind the prep liquid. (keep it cold!). My next one's due in February. I get the day off, nobody can make me pick up anything heavy and I get to eat whatever I want for supper (and I'll be very hungry by then lol).

Tots and pears don't figure prominently into my worldview but please know that I only wish the best for you and your family and that it is definitely beatable.

EDIT _ dear jesus I misread. Your brother has prostate cancer and I was thinking colon. I have no experience with that at all so please forgive me - I don't want to shine you on with rosy outlooks but my sincere best wishes remain the same. I expect the early diagnosis does still help.