Today, many patients now have access to more than one drug that can help them live longer and improve their quality of life, despite living with advanced cancer.
I was diagnosed at the age of 65 and I have been living with my prostate cancer for 20 years. And to all the men who have this disease, if they can have the treatments that I have, which is what I wish for them, they will see a progression towards healing – maybe not completely – by keeping their PSA results as low as possible.
I would also like everyone to be like us. This is what I wish for them. I have been with the same woman Monique for 58 years and we have 5 children. Our children had our grandchildren and our grandchildren had our great-grandchildren. We have 10 great-grandchildren: 7 boys and 3 girls. We have a lot of fun and love them so much. They are all in good shape and do not seem to have any health problems.
Personally, I work, not as a youngster, but I maintain my house, work around the house. In the summer, I cut the lawn, then the hay. I don’t do a garden because I don’t like gardening … but I could do one! I lead a life very much to my liking anyway.
We go out every day, to have a coffee… as if we didn’t have coffee at home! We do crosswords, sudokus; my wife does mystery and unscrambled words. During winter, we try to complete a puzzle. It’s been going on for the last two years now. I don’t know if we are going to finish it… But in any case, for us, life is good!
Ovila Blanchard, 85 years old
The term “advanced prostate cancer” describes not just one type of disease, but several. It may be one of the following prostate cancers.
Locally advanced cancer – This is when cancer has started to spread beyond the prostate without going too far. It may have barely passed the boundaries of the capsule, but it may also have reached neighboring tissues, such as the bladder, external sphincter, and rectum.
Recurrent cancer – This is when cancer comes back after initial treatment (surgery, radiotherapy/brachytherapy) with or without metastasis.
Cancer with metastases – This is when cancer has spread to other areas of the body, far from the prostate. Most often, metastases of prostate origin are established in the pelvic lymph nodes and bones.
Castration-resistant cancer or CPRC – This is when cancer continues to progress despite hormone therapy.
Some of these cancers can be treated for curative purposes, which means a complete cure. Others will be closely monitored; the various treatments that exist can successfully control the progression of your cancer for several years. In the presence of metastases, they can reduce your symptoms and alleviate pain. For cancers that cannot be cured, specialists increasingly agree on the concept of chronic disease thanks to advances in research and the emergence of new molecules, among others.
As Dr. Fred Saad mentions in the 5th edition of his book Understanding the disease and its treatments: “Many patients now have access to more than one drug that can help them live longer and improve their quality of life. Although these are important discoveries, research continues intensively since it is unfortunately not possible to cure at this stage of the disease.”
Discover our new animated videos
Discover three new animated videos, each equally unique and original from one to the other. Be on the lookout!
Here is the third one – The role of hormone therapy
Take the time to visit each of our pages on this website, as well as our YouTube channel, in order to get familiar with the disease with our expert lectures, our section on available resources, the support that is offered to you.
Do you have any questions or concerns? Above all, do not hesitate. Contact us at 1 855 899-2873 to discuss with a nurse specializing in uro-oncology. It’s simple and free, like all our services.
Pages of our site that might interest you
Want to know more? Just click on one of the links below.
Prognosis and survival
I have advanced cancer
PROCURE news that may interest you
Each week, we publish a blog article. Here are a few for you.
Alone against my diagnosis… Serge’s story
Welcome life… Serge’s story
Investing in your health, a must… Martin’s story
Quite a shock… Martin’s story
Written by PROCURE. © All rights reserved – 2020
