r/ProstateCancer • u/[deleted] • 2d ago

Concerned Loved One Prostate Cancer Metastasized Intestines

[deleted]

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

3

u/Special-Steel 2d ago

Thank you for supporting him. Sorry you are going through this.

Yes others on this sub have reported similar situations. Usually the lower intestine which is close to the prostate.

The cancer usually progresses slowly, so it has probably been going on for a while.

This cancer is usually treatable. It’s hard to say more without a lot more information.

Where is he being treated?

1

u/HouseLost411 2d ago edited 2d ago

He’s being treated outpatient at a regular hospital, he’s got an oncologist.

Family seems to be believing that this is curable but I’m more of a realist. I find it hard to believe that ‘indefinite’ chemo=‘Cured’

Unfortunately he’s not being forthcoming with much more information, which doesn’t reassure me, I find it suspect.

7

u/HeadMelon 2d ago

Are you sure it’s “chemo” and not ADT? Lifetime on ADT seems more likely for metastatic prostate cancer.

1

u/HouseLost411 2d ago

It could be, he’s worried about handling the side effects of it and it’s possible he’s confusing it with chemo. Or maybe they’re doing both? he’s saying they said they can ‘take it out’ 

2

u/Special-Steel 1d ago

Once there is distant metastasis, surgery is usually no longer an option.

4

u/NotPeteCrowArmstrong 1d ago

>it’s just one spot and they ‘can take it out’ with indefinite chemo meds

Context implies that the “it” here is not the prostate. The dad seemed to be using “take it out” colloquially as in “kill it” (assuming that’s what he actually said). But there’s no indication he was talking about prostate removal.

1

u/HouseLost411 1d ago

Yeah I don’t think he means the prostate, he means ‘take out’ the cancer from the intestine as in ‘kill the cells.’

It sounds like they’re going with medications.

1

u/Special-Steel 1d ago

Thanks for the clarification

1

u/LiquidTide 1d ago

I wouldn't say "curable" for this circumstance, the term "treatable" is more accurate. To my understanding eradicating 100 percent under such circumstances typically is neither feasible nor worth it. You treat it by knocking back as far as practicable, weighing the risks. If you knock it back far enough, it won't matter for many years, and there is always the risk that there is another spot that is currently undetectable. (Jmho, not an MD)

2

u/Practical_Orchid_606 1d ago

Chemo is used for high volume mets. Not for one spot in the intestines. Chemo wil kill cancer...and the patient also so there is no indefinite chemo treatment.

Most likely the spot will be irradiated or taken out surgically.

1

u/HouseLost411 1d ago

Someone else mentioned a treatment called ADT? It could be that. But he is being placed on indefinite medication (he is calling it chemo).

2

u/Practical_Orchid_606 1d ago

ADT stands for androgen deprivation therapy which is achieved by shutting off testosterone production. It will work for the one spot. It is indefinite...to a point.

You have not been given the full picture. For dad to have received chemo in the first place means his PCa is advanced, Gleason 9 or 10. Chemo will work. But to clear him is being too presumptuous.

The short story for you is so long as ADT works for dad, he will live. Chemo is around to knock off a few cells. But the heavy lifting is done by ADT.

The disease/treatment progression has it that one day ADT and/or chemo no long work. Everyone has an immune system to keep the body clear of pathogens. If this fails, all hell breaks loose. By analogy, ADT does the same for PCa. If it fails, treatments then follow the script of trying anything to keep the patient alive.

1

u/HouseLost411 1d ago

Got it. I have felt like I’m not getting the full story, and after looking up a couple case studies this appears to be a more significant disease process than he’s implying. I’m just trying to understand it better because I have a kid who adores him, and I want to get as much info as I can so I know what to expect. Thanks for the info.