Newbie

[fochoa97]

Hello everyone, newbie to this group dx on feb 2017 psa of 224.7 lupron and casodex was prescribed and psa came down to .2 in about 5 months, 44 sessions of imrt later psa started raising.Last session was october 6th 2017, last reading was 12.2 about a month ago, waiting on zytiga approval from my insurance... gleason 8 (4+4) stage4 with mets to lymph nodes... anyone else on my shoes?

[BigRich]

My pelvic nodes with Lupron could no longer be seen by Cat scan. Zytiga is bringing my PSA down. All I have for a side effect is more fatigue. I drink 2 cups of coffee, and solider on.

Rich

[Dan59]

Welcome fochoa 97,

I was dxed stage 4 ,gleason 10,bpsa 148 in 2006,numerous bone mets too many to count,to distant sites and lymph nodes, It has been continual treatment, but I am used to it. That was long before all the new treatments, and the paradigm shift in the way they treat APC, In those days it was lupron till that failed, them chemo til it failed and you were done. Many here have done very well adding upfront zytiga or chemo to their ADT. I had an experience with a heavy dose of IMRT to pelvic bones , nodes and prostate causing my psa to flare for a few months. Coming down to .2 is a good response, but given those stats I hope you get approved for Zytiga , or chemo up front and throw that right into complete remission, Please keep us posted, never give up.

“ The swords of battle are numerous, none more powerful than humor”

Dan

[fochoa97]

Thank you so much for your imput warriors!! I they did a bone scan in December and ct scan on january both of them were clean.... last week i got a sodium flouride pet scan to find the reason why my psa still climbing....

[Dr_WHO]

Welcome. Similar to you. G 8, lymph node involvement, Ductal (rare and hard to treat). Even though the cancer had spread to the pelvic area they operated and removed not only the prostate but cancerous lymph nodes. Recent thinking is that there is merit for removing the primary source of cancer even when it has metastasized.

Hope you get insurance approval to go on Zytiga (with prednisone). It has helped a lot of men, me included.

Please know that you are in our family now. Let us help you be strong. After all, people like us we have to stick together.

[fochoa97]

Thank youDr_WHO!

[RyderLake2]

I am walking in your shoes as well. Diagnosed at the end of May 2013 with a PSA just under 1700 and extensive bone mets. Gleason 8 (4+4). Immediately placed on Zoladex and later Zoladex and Casodex (bi-calutamide). When my PSA started to rise my oncologist took me off the Casodex and darn if my PSA didn't go back down again. You might want to talk to your doctor about that while waiting approval for Zytiga.

[fochoa97 in reply to RyderLake2]

I got off bicalutamide (casodex) on the 9th of january (last month) and had blood work done today so i will be talking to my oncologist on wednesday for my results on blood work and pet scan

[Nicnatno]

I was dx in March 2017 with a Gleason score of 8 and PSA of 415. I did chemo immediately for 6 rounds. It brought the PSA down to 0.1 after 4 rounds. PSA is now at 0.2. My onc said I've responded well. I believe you have to hit it hard immedediately which is why i chosed chemo. I tolerated it well. Keep us posted of your progress.

Nick

[vandy69]

Good Morning fochoa97,

Please see my bio for my treatment history since being diagnosed in 8/12 with PSA=29, Gleason=10 and numerous lymph node mets.

There are many treatment paths for you, so the most important factor is having a Medical Oncologist who specializes in prostate cancer and is current with the latest treatments.

Best wishes. Never Give In.

Mark, Atlanta

[j-o-h-n]

to Dan59

“The swords of battle are numerous, none more powerful than humor”

GEEZAMACRIPE that's my line.

Like they say "smile things could be worse", so I smiled and sure enough things got worse.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 02/06/2018 5:45 PM EST

[Dan59 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Actually it is Stephen Jay Goulds line, I posted it here about a year ago, first line in last paragraph in this excellent article on cancer statistics.

phoenix5.org/articles/Gould...

Have a great day John, I always enjoy reading your post ,

Dan

[fochoa97]

Zytiga got approved by insurance