Can Radium 223 kill PCa in the prostate and can Docetaxel kill bone Mets?

[tarzantass]

Radiation is what l plan to do in the coming week. I would appreciate if you could tell me whether Radium 223 can kill PCa in the prostate and whether Docetaxel can kill bone Mets? Thanks.

[Bret5]

I’m currently on triple therapy including Docetaxel. Getting my #3 infusion of 6 planned, tomorrow at City of Hope in Newnan Georgia. SE to date are mild. PSA already dropped from 156 to 64 to 2.9 in last 60 days. MO told me that is much faster drop than typical and is a very good sign. Testosterone now too low to measure. Numerous bone Mets throughout body so radiation not an option. No pain or cancer symptoms whatsoever. What my MO told me is that once in the bones like I have it, the cancer I have cannot be cured but it can be halted or reversed for some period of time, depending on each individual. I already had RP 6 months ago Gleason 10 so can’t comment on your other question. At time of RP no cancer had been detected outside the prostate but some of it evidently escaped the surgery.

[tarzantass in reply to Bret5]

Thanks Bret

[Tall_Allen]

"Can Radium 223 kill PCa in the prostate?" No. Only in bone.

"can Docetaxel kill bone Mets?" Yes.

[tarzantass in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks Allen

[Scoofer33]

Tall Allen's post above is the simple truth of the matter.

I'm Gleason 9 (Stage IV) and prior to chemotherapy I received 6 (free) doses of Radium 223 dichloride (Thank you, Bayer Pharmaceuticals) to de-bulk the cancerous lesions in my bones. Being chemo naive, I was able to complete all six treatments with no time-outs. Sometimes they will refuse to give you the treatment if your white blood cells are so low it will overwhelm your immune system. All the other men in my cohort, if you will, had their immune systems compromised by prior chemo. They failed to complete 6 infusions, as giving them another dose would have killed them. I tolerated the drug extremely well with no noticeable side effects, and it worked to de-bulk the cancer in my bones.

In contrast, Docetaxel (Taxotere) was not effective for me at all. I received all 6 treatments, but midway through treatment we found radiographic evidence of progression of the disease, seeing lesions in new locations. Knowing that I value QoL rather than number of days, my ONC and I decided not to try the last bullet in my arsenal, Jevtana (Cabazitaxel), since it was too similar to my first chemo cocktail. I was not nauseous until my treatment ended, however, Peripheral Neuropathy was a huge side effect. I'm still waiting to be able to feel my feet again.

[tarzantass in reply to Scoofer33]

Thanks Scoofer

[docbulldog]

I am now on Cabazitaxel, they are going to drop the docetaxel on the next infusion date. PSA has dropped from 700s down into the low hundreds, hoping for a continued drop. Pretty much without pain except for the neuropathy and have a lot of weakness in my legs.

With a low platelet count, I probably will not qualify for radium 223, that is my next option I understand.

[ChristopherM123]

I had all six Radium injections. Did not have the results all had hoped for. Side effects included exhaustion, loss of appetite and such rapid weight loss that I went from 94kg to77k and suffered such drastic muscle loss that my legs are so weak that I can hardly walk a fraction of what I used to be able to do. Legs regularly in pain.

[Islandboy2021 in reply to ChristopherM123]

I have had 4 injections and have been losing weight, fatigue and loss of appetite. Hard to push myself to work out.

[docbulldog]

i’m not sure my cells can handle radium injections, I’m having trouble now keeping my platelet count up enough to be able to have the rest of my chemo infusions.

I’m not sure what my next route would be if I can’t do the radium 223 .