What is the best way to treat advanced prostrate cancer? I have had a radicals prostatectomy and later radiation and now mu urologist due rising PSA for 12 months (0.0-5; 0.50, to 1.41) now wants me to start Eligard?
Does anyone know of any promising treatments on the horizon that at realistic for prostrate cancer? Any real hope out there?
You should still have lots of hope. Eligard works for many men for years. You do not yet appear to have used Provenge, enzalutimide (Xtandi), abiraterone (Zytiga), radium 223 (Xofigo), or chemo. All offer hope! There’s no cure yet, but maybe these will help us hang in there until there is.
Thank you so much. Your kind words and thoughts make sense. You are correct I have tried none of those other options as of yet. The Eligard was just suggested just recently. I do hear from my family PC doctor that they are working on and making great progress for PC. Thank you again and God Bless you.
RK.
I don't see any mention of a medical oncologist. A medical oncologist is a very important member of your cancer fighting team. He makes the team complete. Find a good oncologist that will work with the medical and caregiver team. You have many years a head of you and your team working against cancer.
Dennis
Thanks Dennis for your reply and information. I am asking my Urologist about going to or recommending to see a Urologic Oncology doctor. Is this the type of specialist you would recommend? I am also near the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and they have a comprehensive advanced prostrate cancer team/center.... I've had same urologist since 2012 who is Harvard trained and great reputation but he works out of a big Urology group out of Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI so not real sure about seeking out other alternatives or advice to the ADT Eligard therapy and how he would react to that but I'm thinking a second opinion or more eyes on my particular situation may not hurt. I'm just kind of in a daze right now and trying to process it all so fast and what would be best, etc. Thanks again for reaching out to me it really helps to hear from people like yourself. Much love to you and your family on this Thanksgiving. I'm thankful you took the time to give me some hope and positive and encouraging. God bless you and your family.
RK
Oncology and urology are two separate specialities. Oncology deals with cancer. Your oncologist and urologist are part of your medical team. You lead the team and are there for the decisions.
It would be great if your oncologist specialist would do his work mostly with prostate cancers. These oncologist are usually found in university hospitals.
The oncologist and urologist should be able to suggest a more aggressive program to fight your cancer. It's like you're the coach, the pitcher is the oncologist and the catcher is the urologist.
I'm sorry I sort of got off on a tangent. I think you could say I believe that you should get a oncologist.
Please keep us informed of your progress in your battle. The group of people on HealthUnlocked care about you. We're all here for you. We are all fighting the same foe.
Have a great thanksgiving. I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts.
Dennis
Happy Thanksgiving, Yost, your positive attitude--and informed comments--are very much appreciated. Let's all hang in there until there is....
There is lots of hope. Eligard should immediatly put your psa back to Undetectable , and it could stay there for many years. There is a thing called intermittant hormone therapy after you have been undetectable for over. Ayear.There is many new treatments in the last decade that work very well,and equally as many in trials now to be used in the future. I would suggest you should be in the care of a Medical oncologist at this point. Welcome to the group.
Thank you so much for your reply. That type of reassurance is very helpful especially at this point and time for me personally. Can't thank you enough for the kind and encouraging words and the many options and trials available. Is a medical oncologist specifically treating prostrate cancer? I saw a radiation oncologist when I had 6 weeks of radiation after having a radical prostatectomy 5 years ago. Again yours words of hope and possible ways to manage mean so much. Thank you Dan and God Bless you for taking the time to reply to me.
A Medical Oncologist is the one who prescribes Cancer drugs. Ideally one associated with a major learning center that specializes in Prostate Cancer. There are General Oncologist and also those that specialize in the latest treatments for Prostate Cancer. Keep us posted how things go, there will be many to respond. Happy Thanksgiving.
God Bless You
Hope? That word goes a long ways, decades in fact. Get ready for a long long, ride. It's not like your going to drop over next year, you have many, many years of great life ahead of you, enjoy them. As others have stated, get yourself a good Oncologist that specializes in prostate cancer. This stuff isn't half as bad as some make it out to be. Relax.
So far I am OK with Eligard. I have lost my sex drive, and that is the big problem. The trade off is that I have had 0.00 PSA for 6 years. This means that my cancer cells are not multiplying and going into my bones and lymph nodes. I feel pretty normal and most of the side effects are not very noticeable anymore. I also had 72 radiations. 42 in 2007 and then they found metastatic cells in 2011 and I had 30 more radiations. These last 6 years have been a blessing and consider myself a very lucky man. Good luck to you also!
Eligard is an androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) agent that knocks your testosterone down to nothing. They call it chemical castration but the effect isn't permanent. It can cause gynecomastia (it did in my case). Radiation of the breast tissue can ward this off but you'll have to demand it -- they likely won't offer it. I see from your other post that you've been dealing with PC for several years now so you'd be over the initial shock. Eligard will give you good PSA readings in short order. There are other stronger therapies that can be applied, including chemo. There are plenty of posts on this site discussing these options. Good luck.
There is always hope iv had a prostatectomy w extensive lymph nodes removal my original psa was 220 then i started Lupron injection for 6 months it dropped my psa to 9.6 then the day before my surgery it went up to 12 ...im in my 2nd week of recovery and feeling hopeful ... with every new day i look forward being a part of my recovery ....
try turmeric in the form of "golden milk " circumen / google golden milk auyervedic medicine
I am a nearly 18 year fighter, with a Gleason of 9 , 5+4.. If necessary as mentioned by many above, (all of which I've had) are available options. Surgery, IMRT, Lupron, Casodex, Abiraterone, Provenge, Xtandi, SBRT (focused radiation). Many other treatments on the horizon. Plenty of reason for hope and a long life!
David,
First thank you for taking time out of your Thanksgiving Day to respond to someone you don't know from Adam. Being that today is Thanksgiving and I have been stricken with worry and grief for 2 months since finding my PSA was rising to 1.41 from 0.50 in two months time ( Also, like you I had a high Gleason of 4+4 = 8/10 originally). So my Gleason score was 8. I had a radical prostatectomy in April 2012 and due to rising PSA again went thru radiation treatment in March-May 2016 with a radiation oncologist over seeing that who was recommended by mu urologist. I now am being told my urologist that next step should be to start Eligard injection to again lower PSA at least that's the hope.
I am taking diazepam because I am so upset/worried/depressed. Your words today although few display the love and that good people who truly care about others and want to help in some small way are still out there . Thank you for reaching out to me today and God bless you and your family on this Thanksgiving day.
Hang in there! The urologist has done their job. You need to find a medical oncologist. There are a lot of new treatment options that were announced this year. One good one that I am on is based on the Stampede and Latitude trials. They found great results using a mixture of Lupron and Zytiga and/or Lupron and a Chemo drug. Survival rates increased by over 30% on this mixture.
Also consider the wonderful advice/suggestions listed by other cancer warriors. Stay strong!
To RKWade,
Take a deep breath...and calm down... Take the good advice of many of your new compatriots here. You've hit the jackpot when you joined this group.
I fight those low down dirty bastard cells with laughter.
So finish your Thanksgiving turkey dinner and bless yourself for not being a turkey.
j-o-h-n Thursday 11/23/2017 5:17 PM EST
I had radiation 8 years ago & my psa stayed below 3 up until 2 years ago when it began doubling every 3 months. When it got to 20 & I was passing blood they put me on xtandi &lupron. My psa droped to .7 & bleeding stopped. Don't know which one did what but thankful that something worked.
Worried daughter comes back in hope again
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Looking for hope and Inspiration from your stories. 
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Aggressive Prostate Cancer and an angry patient
