Prostate stage 4 90 yrs old

[Sespitia]

I don't understand why the doctors want to give up cuz of being 90. There's no other illnesses present only the prostate cancer. They say I had a good life to live to 90. Don't give up on me cuz I'm 90. Help me be here until am 95 or even longer.

[Hidden]

correctamundo. New doctors.

[YostConner]

I agree. They should advise and help as long as you want to fight. Change docs if you need to. And slay this beast!

[Hidden]

When you want to fight and your doctor doesn't: time for a new doctor. This advice is good for anyone at any age.

[Scruffybut1]

Change doctors and order the new Ines to keep you going. Keep writing to us.

[Sespitia in reply to Scruffybut1]

Whats new ines?

[Hidden in reply to Sespitia]

I think he meant "order the new doctors (ones) to keep you going".

[Sisira]

Great advice from gregg57!

Long live Sespitia!

Sisira

[j-o-h-n]

Just tell the doc that you want to live to 100 so you can "place flowers" (I cleaned it up) on his grave.

Keep Plugging!

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Thursday 08/24/2017 9:37 AM EST

[Break60]

The doctors are probably afraid that the treatment will kill you before the cancer. And treatment will reduce your quality of life. But if you insist keep shopping

Bob

[Tonyland]

I agree. My dad just turned 88 and he is fighting and as his daughter, I will continue to advocate and fight for him.

[Hidden]

90 is the new 70, find a doctor who gives a damn about other humans.

[ctarleton]

If you could provide some more details about the extent of your diagnosed prostate cancer, and your test "results" and "numbers" it might help put things in a better perspective for those who want to make further supportive Replies to you.

[ctarleton in reply to ctarleton]

See also:

nccn.org/patients/guideline...

and

ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4c6...

[BigRich]

I visited my uncle every week, and he was getting his Lupron injection at 93. He didn't die of prostate cancer. He had a heart attack and passed away in his sleep.

Rich

[Hidden in reply to BigRich]

yea, you got to be careful of heart attack. And falls.

[sidnw]

Having cancer in the bone and bone marrow some Drs. would say that at age 92 maybe you should do nothing and let nature take its course.

Sidnw

[Hidden in reply to sidnw]

Look for a clinical trial. You might like it.

[Sharksrule1]

My Dad is also 90 with stageIV PC, Mets to bone and pelvis etc.(mets/pc were found on a ct scan for an unrelated illness) PSA started at 700+ we decided to start him on 3mo lupron shots 6months ago and PSA is now 5. Doc says he'll probably die of something else before PC. Fight on!

[Sespitia in reply to Sharksrule1]

This is exactly my uncle stats and outcome. He is getting luprion shots every 3 mos. Not effective as yours. He's trying xfigo in a few weeks

[Boywonder56 in reply to Sespitia]

Try erleada with the lupron...although it might just b another name for xifgo...applutimide?

[Sespitia in reply to Sharksrule1]

If you have any other advice or help please help. He is losing weigh fast and getting extremely weaker.

[Hidden in reply to Sespitia]

Has he tried either of the 2 second-line androgen blockers: Zytiga plus Prednisone or Xtandi? One of those are usually what is tried when Lupron fails. Then after that doesn't work, it's usually chemotherapy: Docetaxel possibly combined with Carboplatin.

[Sespitia in reply to Hidden]

They want to do xfigo. He had Lydia, xtandi and is still getting luprion shots.

[Hidden in reply to Sespitia]

So it sounds like Xtandi is not working any more. If so, did they say he can't take chemo? If he can't take chemo, then I can see why they are suggesting Xofigo. That may be the best option at this point.

[Sespitia in reply to Hidden]

No chemo they said cuz hos age.

His

[Hidden in reply to Sespitia]

There are factors that are used to determine whether a patient is a candidate for chemotherapy, but age alone is not a factor as far as I know. There are people who have successfully fought cancer at age 90, getting extensions of 3 years or more. I'd say if the patient wants to fight and is a candidate for any treatment, he should decide, not the doctor. For chemotherapy, you only have to commit to one cycle at a time. If he is not responding or the side effects aren't worth it to him, he can stop at any time.

Here's an article on the subject of older people fighting cancer.

scientificamerican.com/arti...

[Hidden in reply to Sespitia]

>This response does not seem to be in the right thread. Not sure what happened. It does not apply to you.<

OH! It was to Sespitia, above.

Cachexia. Cachexia is not caused directly by the disease. It's kind of a "friendly fire" thing. Possibly could be reversed. Would not fix the sickness. Possible that there are people who would do something. I think of Dr Pienta at Johns Hopkins. I mean he is certainly aware of the problem; not sure if he has a strategy to fix it. You might email him.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cachexia

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/resu...

Probably not eligible for a trial. But compassionate use maybe.

I don't know those rules.

[Scruffybut1]

Sorry that should have read 'new ones' i.e. new doctors.

[ctarleton]

A lot will depend on his physical condition and blood tests before starting Xofigo, and every time before the next dose of Xofigo. Think very carefully about the trade-offs vs. the benefits in terms of both Overall Survival and Quality of Life beyond the age of 90, particularly in his current greatly weakened state.

"Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions ...in the Xofigo arm ...were nausea (36% ...), diarrhea (25% ...), vomiting (19%....), and peripheral edema (13% ...). Grade 3 and 4 adverse events were reported in 57% of Xofigo-treated patients .... The most common hematologic laboratory abnormalities in the Xofigo arm ...were anemia (93% ...), lymphocytopenia (72% ...), leukopenia (35% ...), thrombocytopenia (31% ...), and neutropenia (18% ...)"

You may also want to consider watching this excellent documentary, and reading the book upon which it was based.

pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film...

"Being Mortal,... Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the End"

Available in many bookstores, libraries, and on-line, e.g.

amazon.com/Being-Mortal-Ill...