Ok so I had all this typed out and something happened and erased it alll!
Getting all the info out of my grandpa is part of the problem - he doesn't want to worry anyone. We're working on him! What I do know/remember is that he is about 84yrs old and was diagnosed in 1992-93. He had 2 different cryotherapy treatments about 6 months apart, then a year later had his prostate removed. After that he was great for about 10yrs. I know at some recent(withing the last 5 yrs) he started taking Casodex and Lupron (not sure if at the same time or not) He also has other health issues; high blood pressure and an aortic aneurysm. He has ALOT of bone pain especially in his lower back and legs. I can remember him hitting himself in the thigh or the back(that's how he deals with the pain) The oncologist has told grandpa that it has spread by his psa levels but grandpa doesn't want to do anymore tests. I'm not sure of the current psa level but within the past 2yrs I've heard it was 0.01 but grandma said the last one was horrible. My grandpa is a very intelligent man (I just found out recently that he had worked for NASA!) but the problem is all of his reference books he has is 20-30 yrs old! So my mom and grandma want me to help them talk to him and give/get him as much info as I can to help him make a decision. The biggest problem I have is that I live 8 hrs away and I get all of my info from my grandma-who has a hard time remembering and my mom who doesn't understand alot about healthcare. I am a pharmacy tech at a hospital so I understand how things are supposed to work but he doesn't seem to be the "norm". I know that part of the problem is my grandpa when the dr has asked him if he's in any pain he won't tell him, so my mom and grandma told the dr and the office said that grandpa had to be the one to ask for it. (I understand why - the dr thinks they are seeking drugs for themselves - which is soo not true!) I know how much an oncologist can help and it kills me that his isn't helping at all. My mother-in-law just passed away this past August from breast cancer that had spread to lungs, liver, and then to the brain. She had been fighting that for 17yrs. I saw how her drs worked with her doing as much or as little as she wanted and it just makes me so frustrated with my grandpa's dr. She was given any pain med for any little symptom and he's been rolling on the floor in pain and can't get anything! It makes me want to punch the dr! My grandpa deserves much better than this, he is a wonderful person who wouldn't do anything wrong and yet it seems as though he's being punished! My grandparents are active in church and I know that helps them get through the hard times but I wish that the dr would help grandpa at least with the pain. I know that after he gets his shot for about a week or so he is so tired and exhausted that he can barely do anything (which is not like him at all) I just pray that someone can help give us info or at least websites or some kinda references that he can use to help make a decision to continue with this med or not. I'll be visiting them the week after Christmas - so suggestions quickly would be appreciated!! Thank you all!!!