Can palliative care help my father with prostate cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

My father is 71 years old and has advanced prostate cancer. It has spread to his bones, and he is in a lot of pain. Hormone therapy is not working anymore. His doctor wants to try chemotherapy, but my father refuses. He says he does not want to spend his last days sick from treatment.

I am torn, and I want him around longer, but I do not want him to suffer. My concerns are -

Are there any other options?
What about immunotherapy?
Also, how do we manage his pain better? He is so uncomfortable.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I am really sorry to hear about your dad. It is a tough situation, and it is understandable to feel torn.

In cases of advanced prostate cancer, there are a few options to consider:

Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life. This might include better pain management strategies, such as adjusting medications or exploring options like nerve blocks.
Radiation therapy can help relieve bone pain if it is focused on the areas where cancer has spread.
Immunotherapy can help some patients.
Clinical trials might be ongoing trials for new treatments, including immunotherapy, that could be an option for him.

Discuss all these options with your treating doctor, so that he, along with your father, can decide on a treatment option that has fewer hospital visits, fewer side effects, and is a bit more effective.

It is crucial to have open conversations with your father about his preferences and wishes. Encourage him to express his thoughts about treatment and end-of-life care. You might also want to involve a palliative care specialist who can help with both pain management and discussing goals of care.

Ultimately, the focus should be on his comfort and what he feels is best for him. It is a challenging balance, but ensuring that he feels heard is really important.

I hope this has helped you. Please feel free to reach out to me again in case of further queries.

Thank you.