xofigo update

[chascri]

Had my third Xofigo injection this week. Xofigo injections are easy and take only about five minutes once a month for six months. So far, little to no side effects. Blood tests have all looked good. PSA down to 1.15 from a high of 9 a few months ago. Testosterone 15.

About 2 weeks after my second injection, I quickly started to get pain relief from severe cancer pain in my spine, ribs and left femur, which had required 2 mg of hydromorphone every 4 hours to keep the pain tolerable. About 3 weeks ago I was able to go off the hydromorphone entirely. Since, I've been able to keep the pain very tolerable with 220 mg naproxen sodium every 8 hours.

I had been on the hydromorphone for about 3 months. Tapering off the hydromorphone by slowly increasing the time between 2 mg doses by two hours per day until I was on one 2 mg dose per day worked pretty well. (I started the naproxen for any cancer pain between doses during this time). When I went off the last 2 mg dose I experienced unpleasant withdrawal symptoms (chills, sweats, stomach pain, restless arms and upper body, and sleeplessness) for 4 or 5 days. While I was on the hydromorphone it tore my stomach up pretty good. (Severe stomach pain for which I had to take a another prescription medication). Since I have gone off the hydromorphone, stomach pain has gone, I feel much better and have started to do some light exercise again.

I resumed Xgeva injections about 2 weeks ago. No noticeable side effects yet.

I hope my experience on Xofigo so far is helpful to anyone contemplating starting it. So far, it seems a good choice for severe cancer pain from multiple bone metastasis.

[Cancer09]

If my hubbys blood levels are good he will be getting xofigo on Tuesday ....when do you feel relief.from pain after the injection. He is on fentanyl 125 mcg and oxycodone 10 mg every 4 hours ..we forgot to ask what happens at the end of the 6 month course ...he will continue on Xgeva and lupron along with procrit as needed...his hgb was low from past chemo and received 2 units of blood yesterday to build up his hgb ...any response would be great ...

[chascri in reply to Cancer09]

My Nuclear medicine doctor who gives me the Xofigo injections says most patients seem to start getting pain relief about 2 weeks to 2 months after starting the injections. My understanding is the Xofigo is supposed to kill existing bone mets during the 6 months of treatment. Each injection only has a half life of 11 days so it probably has little effect on new mets that develop after the six months of treatment.

[chascri]

Thanks good luck to you too. Xtandi or Zytiga is probably next up if and when PSA starts to rise and scans show new mets. Now 17 years out from prostatectomy. See my profile for all cancer treatments to date.

[Cancer09]

My husband had his 1 st injection of xofigo today ..his hemoglobin reached 11.5 after 3 units of blood and an increase in his procrit ...anxious to see how well it works to help his unbearable pain ....positive thoughts ...