my father-in-law was bedridden
@SIMPLYD (90722)
Philippines
June 3, 2012 10:11pm CST
My father-in-law was bedridden since April, and was discovered that he has a stage 4 cancer of the prostate. The cancer has metastasized to his spine, making him paralyzed from waist down. 
He has a monthly injection (radiation therapy)through an IV done by a nurse here at home. It would help to dissolve the compression on his spine and could help him eventually regain his mobility.
He had it already twice and now he can already move his feet and bend his knees a little.
We deemed it good that we don’t bring him to Manila anymore (a 12 hour drive ) for 38 session of radiation ( which could give him the possibility of being mobile for a shorter than 6 months period) because it would be so costly and would inconvenience him a lot since it will be so difficult to transport him ( 12 hours drive, airlines don’t like to have him in lying position) and at his old age he cannot endure the series of radiation that will be done. 
Now, all we can do is pray and hope that his injection of radiation therapy can finally regain him his mobility.
He has a monthly injection (radiation therapy)through an IV done by a nurse here at home. It would help to dissolve the compression on his spine and could help him eventually regain his mobility.
He had it already twice and now he can already move his feet and bend his knees a little.
We deemed it good that we don’t bring him to Manila anymore (a 12 hour drive ) for 38 session of radiation ( which could give him the possibility of being mobile for a shorter than 6 months period) because it would be so costly and would inconvenience him a lot since it will be so difficult to transport him ( 12 hours drive, airlines don’t like to have him in lying position) and at his old age he cannot endure the series of radiation that will be done.
Now, all we can do is pray and hope that his injection of radiation therapy can finally regain him his mobility.1 person likes this
8 responses
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
4 Jun 12
Stage 4 cancer of the prostate means that he has reached the terminal stage of cancer and there is no hope of recovery. I think there was delay in making the diagnosis. But any enlargement of the prostate, be it benign or malignant, causes retention of urine, increase frequency of urination and so on. So if a doctor were consulted at the beginning, there could be an early diagnosis by doing a blood test for PAS and a FNAC. Thus it is too late. I also personally believe that frequent transport will not only be costly but also inconvenient for the patient. So you are right in undergoing his treatment at home. I also believe that all the governments throughout the world should come forward with a human face to stand by such patients and their family members in terms of monetary help and cooperation.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
4 Jun 12
Yes we know that stage 4 means at terminal stage. Though, what we are hoping is for him to be able to become mobile again.
The doctor said that his uncle who also have that , at stage 4 , recovered his mobility after 6 months of the radiation therapy once a month injection. Of course there are other cancer medicines that he is taking.
At least, when he is mobile he will still be able to see the beauty of the earth around him, not be alive yet confined to his bed.
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
4 Jun 12
I hope he would be able to recover his mobility after a full course of the radiation therapy.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
5 Jun 12
Thank you my friend. 
Now, we are hopeful that the monthly injection will finally make him mobile again as other patients of his doctor with the same case had experienced.
At least, he can enjoy whatever number of years he still has on earth.
Now, we are hopeful that the monthly injection will finally make him mobile again as other patients of his doctor with the same case had experienced.
At least, he can enjoy whatever number of years he still has on earth.
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
4 Jun 12
I'm so sorry to hear about your father in law. That would definitely be something that is hard to deal with. Cancer is such an awful illness. Our heart goes out with you and your family. Do all that you can so that you and your family can spend time with him.
@Lizomatic12 (96)
• United States
4 Jun 12
I will Pray for you and your Father-in-Law. I wish him a speedy recovery. God to Bless you and Good Luck:-)
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
5 Jun 12
Thank you my friend for your offer of prayer. We need that for my father-in=law.
@China5Flower (225)
• Guangzhou, China
4 Jun 12
Sorry to hear that!Eager to comfort you, hope you won't be so sad. Aging is an unpreventable process for life, and illness always comes together. If we treat our bodies better in young times, we won't have so many sufferrings at an old age. Illness comes from unheathiy or overworking habbit,and we can learn a lesson from it and improve the condition. You are not your hather-in-law, so you can't bear the pain for him. AS you said, all you can do is pray .I also hope he will recover soon. Sufferrings are devils who must go.! At the same time, treat youself and your family memembers aside better !
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
4 Jun 12
Thank you for your comforting words, china. 
Actually, my father in law has consulted the same urologist who is treating him now, many years ago. He was given a 30 day medicine but my father-in-law never came back since then, until this sudden paralysis.
Had he gone back before, perhaps it wouldn't come into being terminal already.
Actually, my father in law has consulted the same urologist who is treating him now, many years ago. He was given a 30 day medicine but my father-in-law never came back since then, until this sudden paralysis.
Had he gone back before, perhaps it wouldn't come into being terminal already. 
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
4 Jun 12
Yes, my friend that's the best that we could do to my father-in-law now.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
4 Jun 12
I don't understand, if he doesn't get all the treatments he needs he can go back to the way he was or worse
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
4 Jun 12
That actual radiation can help him expedite his becoming mobile again, winterose. Though, it would be tedious for him, because he is old , we will be transporting him through a van , lying down, we have to stop once in a while, lest the travel will aggravate the compression at his back. In addition, he will be having the radiation for 38 times, at 2x a week at 10-15 mins. per session only , as out patient, there in the far city where we have no house to live while we wait for his next session. It will be very costly.
To and from the hospital he will be transported in a stretcher through a van. He will have the radiation for at least 5 months, when the injectable can do it for 6 months and have only 4 months to go before it's 6 months, since he already have 2 months of the injectable.
So , we deemed it best that he shouldn't take the actual radiation anymore.
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
4 Jun 12
Oh that is sad and scary at the same time.. prayers for your father in law i know how hard cancer can be as my aunt went through that and sadly she was defeated but i know she is in a better place now and back then there were no advance treatments for cancer.
i know how hard cancer can be as my aunt went through that and sadly she was defeated but i know she is in a better place now and back then there were no advance treatments for cancer. @SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
4 Jun 12
Actually jazel, we have accepted the fact that he is in a terminal stage.
What we just want is for him to be able to be mobile again, so he could still enjoy his last days on earth. But as we have researched cancer of the prostate even if it's terminal can't make you die over a short time. It can still be longer than 2 years.
Being bedridden, depression cannot be helped, thus he will not be able to enjoy what he should , if he is mobile again.
We are still hopeful that he can recover his mobility. The doctor said there's a lot who has been through the bedridden stage.
What we just want is for him to be able to be mobile again, so he could still enjoy his last days on earth. But as we have researched cancer of the prostate even if it's terminal can't make you die over a short time. It can still be longer than 2 years.
Being bedridden, depression cannot be helped, thus he will not be able to enjoy what he should , if he is mobile again.
We are still hopeful that he can recover his mobility. The doctor said there's a lot who has been through the bedridden stage.