my dad has stage 4 prostate cancer which has moved into the bone. what is stage 4?

Question

he is 85 years old. he has had cancer for about 5 or 6 years. he just had the IV radiation but the pain is not going away. the doctor put him on vicadin. vicadin made him very sick and he was sent to the ER after he had a siesure. he also has alzhiemers. he eats very little and has gotten very weak. what can we expect from here on out?

Answer 1

Basically, stage four refers to a cancer that has spread. Try this site for more info on staging:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/staging
I volunteer at a hospice unit, and obviously every person is different, but when you say he is not eating much and is weak, it sounds like his time may be near now. Spend as much time with him as you can. Maybe play his favourite music, read to him.
As a person nears death, he will not need to eat anymore, nor will he require fluids. He will become less responsive and his skin may or may not feel cold. His breathing may stop and start, which is normal but it often distresses the family. What he will need is mouth care, which means occasional, gentle swabbing of his mouth tissues with a moist swab or cloth. The last sense to go is hearing, so talk to your dad and let him know you are there. I hope this is the kind of info you were looking for.
Please remember to take care of yourself too: eat, go for a walk, try to sleep. And if you are not there when your dad passes, remember that that may be the way he wanted it. Some people actually wait until they are alone because they feel like it will hurt their loved ones to witness their death.

Answer 2

I am so sorry you are having to experience this with your dad. Alzhiemers is bad enough without the added stress of cancer...



Stage 1: the cancer is very small and completely inside the prostate gland which feels normal when a rectal examination is done
Stage 2: the cancer is still inside the prostate gland, but is larger and a lump or hard area can be felt when a rectal examination is done
Stage 3: the cancer has broken through the covering of the prostate and may have grown into the seminal vesicles
Stage 4: the cancer has grown into the neck of the bladder, rectum or pelvic wall, or has spread to the lymph nodes or another part of the body

Answer 3

Stage
As with many other types of cancer, the outcome of prostate cancer depends on whether it has spread when it is diagnosed. In other words, the stage of your cancer.

Gleason grade or score
With prostate cancer, your prognosis also depends on how the cells look under the microscope. This is called the grade of your cancer. In prostate cancer, this is recorded as your Gleason score. A Gleason score of 2, 3 or 4 indicates a low grade prostate cancer that is likely to grow very slowly. A Gleason score of 5, 6 or 7 is an intermediate grade that will grow at a moderate rate. A Gleason score of 8 to 10 is a high grade cancer that is likely to grow relatively fast.

If your Gleason score is low and you are older or have early stage disease your doctor is likely to suggest watching and waiting (also called active monitoring) . This is because your cancer may not spread or cause any trouble. If you have a high Gleason score, are younger or have higher stage disease your doctor is more likely to suggest you have active treatment .

Stage 4
About 20 to 30 out of every 100 men (20 -30%) have cancer spread to another part of their body when they are diagnosed with prostate cancer. This advanced disease is called stage 4 prostate cancer. About 1 in 3 (30%) men with advanced prostate cancer will live for more than five years after diagnosis. On average, men in this situation can expect their cancer to respond to treatment for about 12 to 18 months. Average survival after that is about another two years.

Prayers to your Dad!!!

Answer 4

Stage 4 is the last stage before death. My heart goes out to you, Angela. Alzheimer's as well as cancer are so hard for a family to go through. My mother died of lung cancer, she was 92, that eventually metastasized and took her life. She passed while I was gone. I'd left the hospice to go home and shower and rest for a while. I missed the phone call. That was the way that she would have wanted it, though it took me several years to realize this. Bless you my dear.

He will sleep a lot. Don't get your fingers or anything too near his mouth, as he might clamp down and not let go. He will be able to hear you, so now is the time to talk with him, tell him stories and things you want him to know. You will notice his toes and feet will turn black when his time is nearing. Have the family come to say goodbye. I wish you the best on your journey. I am so sorry that you need to take it. Godspeed to him and God bless to you.

Answer 5

Hallo,

Stage 4 in cancer indicate bad prognosis. It means cancer cell spread outside prostate. Infilrate lymph nodes and metastasis to other organs. Mostly more than one.

I'm sorry to say, but there's no cure but symptomatic at this stage. Any medication given to your father only to relieve his pain.
Best to do is to spent your quality time together.

My pray for your father and you.

Answer 6

Stage 4 is pretty serious. If I were you, I would talk to the hospital social worker or discharge coordinator about Hospice care for your Dad and a support group for you and the rest of the family. Be strong and spend as much time with your Dad as you can. Do your best to comfort him and let him know you love him.

Answer 7

this is very serious, my mother had cancer several times and the last time she got it, it was in the bone, She did what was called bonemarro transplant, I know I spelled it wrong. It did work but she was only in her 50's. Your father's age and other ailments will determine what the doctor's will recommend to you for treatment. But I can honestly tell you, your father will not be around for many more years no matter what course of action you decide to do. From what you described I wouldn't expect him to live long at all, I will pray for you and your father. I would also ask for morphine instead of vicadin. He might as well live in as little pain as necessary.

Answer 8

He doesn't want you now. Respect his wishes and wait until it spreads into his bones. In the meantime, tell him to get a second opinion from one of the leading cancer centers- Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, John Hopkins, Harvard, etc. Working with them will give him the latest treatments and clinical studies. Women's ( Harvard) has kept my sister alive and functioning with advanced cancer for 10 years plus. His doctor will send his test information to the cancer place, and they will look it over then send a suggested treatment plan. Most insurance plans will pay for it. Even not it is worth the cost to get a treatment plan that is centered on quality of life.

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Answer 9

stage 4 usually indicates metastasis to lymph nodes, other organs, and bone.

# T4: Tumor is fixed or invades adjacent structures other than seminal vesicles: bladder neck, external sphincter, rectum, levator muscles, and/or pelvic wall

Answer 10

ill Pray your Dad to get well soon... i hope after this a few hours later or tomorrow.. your worried is no more..