Rock and hard place!

[herb1]

Newly recovering from triple bypass! One of the drugs cardiologist has me on for heart rate, amiadarone, is listed as a no-no for Lupron. I am overdue for that Lupron shot. After several months of slow but effective psa decrease on my fourth 'on' cycle, my psa started going UP just before the heart disaster (started at 3, decreased to 2.6, 1.7, 1.2 but NOW 1.4, 1.4). Now I seem to be stuck...keep heart going or stop prostate cancer progress. I did alert both docs. Anyone in the group experience such a trap? Anyone have any suggestions?

herb1

[Dr_WHO]

Ask your doctors about Zytiga. It is a pill that you take on a daily bases. Please make sure that insurance covers it as it cost about $9,000/month. Zytiga is usually the drug they give after Lupron does not work. (Recent studies have shown that it should be used at the same time.)

[herb1 in reply to Dr_WHO]

Dr Who: Actually, the immediate next step might be to discontinue casodex and see if there is a psa decrease (AWR). Then either zytiga or xtandi would be the next step and, frankly, I wasn't planning on that! I had a DNR, but things didn't work out as planned.

herb

[pjoshea13]

Herb,

Your priority should be recovery from the triple bypass, IMO.

How long will you need to be on Amiodarone? I'm assuming it is treatment-related, to remove the risk of arrhythmias during recovery - rather than a lifelong drug. Is there an alternative?

Watching one's PSA can drive you crazy. It's not a disaster if the PSA drifts up a little while you are on Amiodarone & off Lupron. IMO.

-Patrick

[herb1 in reply to pjoshea13]

Patrick, I agree, "It's not a disaster if psa drifts up a little". The question is what is going to be "a little". This, my 4th round of intermittent ADT3, just hasn't been behaving. Combine that with what I consider sloppy management by my urologist and things become very fuzzy. I'm the guy who reported 'flu-like symptoms" at last Lupron. I did the only smart thing-I fired my urologist! Will keep you guys in the loop.

herb1

[DrB4u2]

Have you tried Chaga?

[herb1 in reply to DrB4u2]

Hi DrB4u2, No I haven't; in fact I had to look it up to see what it is! I was fascinated, however, to see that my straight line cardiologist/surgeon has me on magnesium oxide and Vit D (ergo, not calci?). First time I've seen a conventional doc using products approaching natural.

Other than that Chaga is claimed to have immunity boosting properties, why do you think it would have a unique advantage in this, my situation? And, finally, even organic/natural products do or can exhibity side effects and drug interactions.

Herb1

[DrB4u2 in reply to herb1]

Herb1;

I'm an all natural physician retired. I've used Ganoderma lucidum for yrs for prostrate support and I just got the best info I've seen on chaga and I just started with it. FYI go to: electrasoft.com/herbs and read up on chaga. It is used at Sloan Kettering routinely.

[Hidden]

I am on propafenone (AKA rythmol) for atrial fibrillation. I had no problems with it when I was on my six month eligard shot. In fact, I had zero a-fib episodes during that six month time and my T was properly driven way down.

[herb1]

Peddie,

Thanks, will take that info to my cardiologist...and my oncologist! I only had two afib episodes, right after the surgery, so maybe I can just get off the drugs ASAP.

herb1

[j-o-h-n]

♪ ♪ ♪ You gotta have heart ♪ ♪ ♪

j-o-h-n Sunday 07/02/2017 6:44 Pm EST

[herb1]

Nal,

Well, maybe. I went into this disaster with a DNR, but I failed to alert the doc who happened to catch me. Now about all I can do is suggest to docs that I will take some? increased risk of heart failure rather than waiting around for PCA to do a nasty job on me. Come on, I'm 81, how long do I want to live anyway...and why? Will they understand that? We will see.

herb1

[herb1]

John, I never could carry a tune!

herb

[herb1]

Nal, I did relate that I collapsed on the racquetball court? Just to note, I had similar experience in 2004-cardiologist wrote my internist that he recommended that I do no physical exercise. Changed docs!

herb