My dad's story...questions

Barb,

I agree with Karen, order another pet scan and so forth, also he may be depressed,,, very common after this surgery even if your test shows nothing.
The age has something to do with it as well,, here we are in our 60's and boom we get blasted with this, for men its very upsetting,what also works on there mind is the sexual funtion, or lack of it.. I don't know your dads situation but at 62 I am sure he was still able. But now not,,its hard to live with that fact as a man, this is a sensitive subject and one you may not be comfortable with dad, just remember for him its an issue, maybe? Emotionally its a real hit on them...
The massage thing sounds good, but I would clear it with the doctor first,,just to be safe,,that may sound weird but I had an experience with my dad having one after open heart surgery,,,he got a pedicure instead....let us know whats next, I am sure he can beat this,,,Take care ,,Ginger

Hi Heenan,

Has your father had a PET Scan yet? How about a CT or MRI? The MX means unknown spread or that they think but are unsure if it is Metastatic...You need to get these tests done asap to see "IF" and "IF SO" where the spread is. I think (and this is just my opinion) that these tests are crucial to decide what treatments come next. There are different treatments for the different areas of the body (ie...liver, kidneys, bone, nodes etc...) where it may or may not have spread.

You are both in my prayers,
Karen

Well - I finally got my hands on the pathology report...the diagnosis...T3 N2 MX

I had 3 pages of questions for the urologist...he had 3 patients waiting...I did get to ask him all of my questions, but the answers were very hurried. So, needless to say, I was very disappointed in our doctors visit last week.

Dad came to Omaha with me yesterday. He says "I am going to beat this" but he seems very down. He almost seems uncomfortable, but tells me that he is not in pain and does not need the darvaset. I have made an appointment for a massage for him on Wednesday, I hope this will help him to feel a little better. He has never had a massage, so it should be a real treat for him.

I called Hollister today and they are going to send some samples to me for dad. They also connected me to Byram Medical Supplies - who supplies Hollister products. Does anyone else use this Hollister provider?

We are scheduled to go to the hematologist on Thursday, Feb. 28...any advise or questions I should be prepared to ask him?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide to me! Barb Heenan

Thank you to everyone for all the information! I really feel like I am going in to the urologist's office tomorrow full of knowledge and many questions. Thank you to all of you for making me look so intelligent

I will be travelling to Estherville, Iowa tomorrow morning...dad's appointment is at 2:00pm and I have about a four hour drive. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

With much love for my dad, Barb Heenan

I did have positive nodes and both Dr. Stein and my local oncologist agreed on the Gemzar/Cisplatin protocol.

Of course things can change rapidly, and it's best to make sure the surgeon and the oncologist are on the same page as far as follow-up treatments.

Barb,
Every protocol is different. I do not know if Gemzar and Cisplatin are used for positive nodes.

I had an initial schedule of four cycles that looked like the following: Gemzar and Cisplatin on day 1; Gemzar only on day 8; no drugs on day 15; (this was repeated four times). Eight weeks with drugs and three without for a total of 11 weeks. Since there were two weeks I didn't have the right blood count, I was not able to get my treatment and they pushed the cycles back a week each. (That made my thirteen week ordeal).

I have heard many people that have four cycles like I had. However, I heard that some have three cycles. I heard others that have treatment twice a week. It all depends on what your Oncologist states.

Initially, I went to a highly respected Oncologist in Seattle. She set me up with this protocol. I asked for a second opinion from an Oncologist closer to home and he recommended the same protocol. (I went with the one closer to home, but I should have stayed with the highly respected Dr.)

Rick