Pls. say a prayer for my father...Updated. 5/17

Hello all, I am almost 6 mos. pregnant and last night I found out a secret that my family has been hiding from me, because I have anxiety disorder and am pregnant. My father has prostate cancer, that is not the whole story, he has known for 6 months and has 3 options and STILL has not picked one. I had to call in sick today, b/c I haven't slept one minute last night and can't stop crying. Does anyone know about this type of cancer? I hear that it is curable but he hasn't gone back to the Dr. yet, I don't even know what to say to him, he is scared, but that is being sooo selfish of him not to go at all. I am trying so hard to calm down, but I can't, I hope and pray I am not hurting my baby during all this, Thanks girls, I am going to try to rest now.

Update:
I called my Dad's Dr. yesterday and he called back and answered my questions - I was shocked b/c I know they really aren't allowed to give out information about pateints - he was sooo sweet to me. I told him everything I feel and he said Sept, for the seeds is fine HOWEVER he must start hormone therapy now and that is a shot 1x a month that slows the process of any spreading down until he does the procedure in Sept. So I also asked if he thinks it is spreading from the PSA and Gleason test results and he said VERY slow growing, so sept. is ok, as long as he does that other treatment. I am happy the seed treatment is still an available option for him, the others are quite extreme right now.

Thank you for your prayers, now I just have to tell him that I started this process ! He has no idea, he wonders why the rest of the family calls me a ***** - well, he is ready to find out !!!

Message edited 5/17/2006 11:41:19 AM.

Re: Pls. say a prayer for my father...

I'm sorry you are going through this...I will say a prayer for your dad!!!!

I do know that if caught early its very treatable...but he needs to know that he MUST go for treatment...my dad is the SAME way and i know what you are going through. My father negelected a growth on his throat (throat cancer turns out) and we all had to beg him to get the treatment. My father is ok now, but it is a scary feeling...why are dads so reluctant to seek the help they need??

Please calmly talk to your dad and voice how important it is he takes care of this...it'll be so much easier on him now to get this treatment than if he were to wait.

Try to calm down a little and take care of yourself-I know it isn't easy.

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I am so sorry for you & your dad and family- you're all in my thoughts.

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I'm so sorry

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I would also try to get him to get some treatment ASAP..
Im sorry..

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Paryers for your dad and you family.

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I went through this 3 years ago with my dad. He had the surgery but they didnt get it "all" out and his PSA numbers were increasing.( they tell you before surgery with any cancer there is that chance it may not all be removed) He went on radiation and hormone shots and for the past 2 years his levels are at 0.
It is good that your dad has options. Is one of them surgery to remove it? I pray it is. I know that at a certain age they will not do surgery and will do either the seed tx or chemo/radiation/hormone tx.
This disease is very common and if caught in time, can be treated and/or cured. I will say prayers for your dad, and for you- Do NOT get crazy about it, he has options- that is a GREAT sign!


edited to say my father didnt go to the doctors for 30 years before this out of fear. but with my stepmom and all of us talking to him about it he realized he wants to live and be there for all of us. And for a man who didnt go to the doctor for 30 years he sure went through a lot and he is forever grateful he had the courage to go. Talk to your dad, but calmly that is so important. Offer to go with him too. My dad is a vietnam vet and has come along way with his fears and phobias and going to the dr and facing the music was one of the hardest. Tell your dad he is not alone.

Message edited 5/15/2006 10:58:42 AM.

Re: Pls. say a prayer for my father...

so sorry.

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thank you everyone for your kind words, it was late last night so I didn't speak to him much but I know he HAD 3 options - but that was a while ago - so he may have to do re-testing to see if the option remain the same - 1 was seeds, 1 was chemo and 1 was surgery to remove the cancer, but they say you can wind up with the bag, so I don't think he would go for that one at all.

I will keep you all updated..

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Re: Pls. say a prayer for my father...

I am so sorry, you and your family are in my prayers

My uncle had prostate cancer over 10 years ago, he went with the radioactive "seeds" that they placed in the prostate...so they didn't remove it....it worked, and he's been cancer free.

My father in law had prostate cancer some 15 years ago; he knew he had the cancer and also waited many many many many months to do anything about it. In the end, he had his prostate removed, and has also been cancer free ever since.


(Neither wound up with the urine bag).

Message edited 5/15/2006 1:38:42 PM.

Re: Pls. say a prayer for my father...

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IT IS VERY TREATABLE SO PLEASE MAKE SURE HE GETS TO THE DOCTOR ASAP TO TAKE CARE OF IT ........

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Many prayers for your dad

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I am so sorry

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Sorry that you are going through this. The C word is very scary, but nowadays it doesn't have to cause as much anziety as it used to.

I don't have advice but a story. I have a relative that had prostate cancer and was treated but he never went for follow-up. Many years later, it turned out it metastasized all over the place. It sounds terrible, but several years later, his therapy (I dunno what it is, a medication of some kind) still has minimal side effects where he's still working long hours, and no sign of slowing down any time soon. You would never know what he had unless he told you.

It is a very treatable cancer and even if it is bad, there is still hope that all will be well!

Message edited 5/15/2006 4:45:18 PM.

Re: Pls. say a prayer for my father...

i am so sorry

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I'm so sorry to hear about your dad Please make sure he gets to a doctor and you're both in my prayers

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for your Dad.
My step Dad had this too and there is a very high success rate of treating this kind of cancer, try not to worry. You want your baby to be OK too.