Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
My Father In Law Has Lymph-node Positive Prostate Cancer .
Question: My Father in law has lymph-node positive prostate cancer. They already removed his prostate, done the PET scan and found the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and bladder. There is another non-prostate cancer on his kidney. He has known all this for over a week and saw his dr today about course of action. The drs still want to do more tests and haven't even started discussing a treatment plan yet much less started treatment. I, and he, feel like they are not moving with the urgency one would expect for a cancer that has already spread so much. He already had to go to another country for the PET scan b/c he would have to wait months in his country. He lives in a country w/socialized medicine but does have other private options if necessary. The cancer is not in his bones yet. I found info on treatment options etc but I can't find any info on what the timeline for treatment should be. At the rate it's been going it will be at least a month and probably more before they even start treatment. Is this reasonable? Or should I push him to start exploring what private options there are? The waiting and knowing what is growing inside his body is very hard on him. I want to know if you think it is normal to wait weeks to months before starting treatment in a metastisized prostate cancer on lymph node and bladder.
Brief Answer:
Radical removal of the prostate is a recommended treatment- radiotherapy afterward can be initiated immediately or within a year from the surgery
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
There are several factors that determine the treatment of prostate cancer. As you explain, your father in law is a high-risk prostate cancer patient (due to the spread in the lymph nodes and bladder). Also, he is treated with prostatectomy (removal of the prostate).
Patients with high-risk prostate cancer can be treated with prostatectomy or radiotherapy as initial treatment. Prostatectomy with the removal of pelvic lymph nodes in case local lymph nodes are involved is a recommended mode of treatment. So, it seems he already got a good treatment for high-risk prostate cancer.
After the removal of the prostate, the next treatment is radiation therapy with or without androgen deprivation treatment. Radiation therapy can be started soon after prostate removal or up to one year. This will help to treat the local spread of cancer.
By what I already explained, he does not seem to be in a hurry to take the radiation treatment as it can be started within a year after the removal of the prostate. The doctor has to decide this after staging the prostate cancer and individualizing the treatment for the patient.
I would advise you to share your concerns with the doctor that is treating him. The doctor should be able to explain to you, based on the characteristics of the prostate cancer in the case of your father in law, when is the best time for the next treatments and if there is any risk for starting them a month later.
If the doctor who is treating him is not giving clear explanations on when should the next treatments be started, why is this in his case, and how can it affect the outcome of the disease, then it may be advisable to look for another doctor to take care of him if this is possible
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Radical removal of the prostate is a recommended treatment- radiotherapy afterward can be initiated immediately or within a year from the surgery
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
There are several factors that determine the treatment of prostate cancer. As you explain, your father in law is a high-risk prostate cancer patient (due to the spread in the lymph nodes and bladder). Also, he is treated with prostatectomy (removal of the prostate).
Patients with high-risk prostate cancer can be treated with prostatectomy or radiotherapy as initial treatment. Prostatectomy with the removal of pelvic lymph nodes in case local lymph nodes are involved is a recommended mode of treatment. So, it seems he already got a good treatment for high-risk prostate cancer.
After the removal of the prostate, the next treatment is radiation therapy with or without androgen deprivation treatment. Radiation therapy can be started soon after prostate removal or up to one year. This will help to treat the local spread of cancer.
By what I already explained, he does not seem to be in a hurry to take the radiation treatment as it can be started within a year after the removal of the prostate. The doctor has to decide this after staging the prostate cancer and individualizing the treatment for the patient.
I would advise you to share your concerns with the doctor that is treating him. The doctor should be able to explain to you, based on the characteristics of the prostate cancer in the case of your father in law, when is the best time for the next treatments and if there is any risk for starting them a month later.
If the doctor who is treating him is not giving clear explanations on when should the next treatments be started, why is this in his case, and how can it affect the outcome of the disease, then it may be advisable to look for another doctor to take care of him if this is possible
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
