Posted 11/23/2013 1:57 AM (GMT -5)
Hello dotson...sorry that you are here, but you will be given good and helpful advice and bountiful knowledge......there's a bunch of intelligent folks monitoring and posting on this forum so be aware that you will know more than you ever thought you would about this disease....if you continue asking questions here and to the doctors. Sometimes it might be "information overload" and you will not able to digest it all in it's entirety but you will, the more knowledgeable you become the more that you will understand and absorb about this disease and how it infiltrates the body.
You will be considered a "caregiver" now and that will entail a lot....your emotions will go up and down, just as your dads, and I am sure your mother's are doing as well. This disease as all of them do, involves the dynamics of the family and I encourage you to talk with everyone, make sure everyone is o the "same page" in the treatments necessary. Also remember quality of live may be better than quantity, keep that in mind as you all start your journey on this road.
My husband and I have been on this journey since 1999, his age at that time was 55. You can see by the signature, we have been doing some sort of treatment ever since, minus about nine months (in 2004, we were hoping against hope that we might have beaten this disease, but we didn't).
My suggestion would be Xgeva instead of the Zometa. Zometa is an infusion given monthly and the Xgeva is a simple monthly injection (every 28 days), both are in the same price range, I think, but I could be wrong. If your dad will be having chemotherapy, he may not want to have to sit through another hour infusion. He will need to stay very hydrated when and if he does start the Zometa and this med is a little "rougher" on the kidneys. This is just a suggestion. You may want to contact the company who makes Xgeva (www.xgeva.com) and see if you can receive financial help as you said you did with the Zometa (Novartis). If you go to either of these medication web sites, they will make you aware of possible jaw issues, that was why one of the threads advised you to have your father get all of his dental work completed prior to starting either one of these drugs.
As I saw in some of your notes, that your father doesn't want to be a "burden". My husband has those same traits, he doesn't want to tell me when he's in pain, because he doesn't want to be a "whiner". So instead of telling me he's in pain, that way I would know that he will be a little "short or curt" with me because of the stress and pain......and I will be aware to handle his emotional state in a "kinder" manner.
Yes, investigate everything that you can get your hands and eyes on about this disease, there is always "something" coming down the "pipes" almost every six months or so. Set up some alerts regarding prostate cancer on for Google. Sign up for e-mail messages from The Cancer Network, you might even want to set up a Caring Bridge Journal (www.caringbridge.org), this venue journals your fathers treatments and updates on his condition, after you post the latest information. This method will eliminate telephone calls, text messages or e-mails to family and friends on the latest treatment, etc.
Zofran(generic: ondansetron) would be good for the nausea as well as a secondary Compazine (generic: prochlorper). Call the manufactures directly and see if they have a system or program set up for people without health care coverage. He may need to start on prednisone (not expensive). Is he able to sleep, if not may need something there as well. Diarrhea or constipation might be an issue with the chemotherapy, be aware and ready with something to ease either one of those symptoms.
I think I have said enough......but this road will not be lonely, I am afraid to say, there are many of us and we are paving a path. Currently my husband is on his 2nd chemotherapy, Jevtana, and another member is paving a path for us, advising possible SE and we both are journalling our lab results and SE as we take each treatment. (My Journey with Jevtana)
Take care. Wishing you Hope, Faith and Peace.