Zytiga got approved by insurance

[fochoa97]

Hello everyone, talked to oncologist and psa is @ 25 now, sodium fluoride pet-ct scan showed lymph node involvement.... dr wants to wait 4 weeks to check psa and see if zytiga is right for me.... scan showed a mass described as a possible cyst in one of my kidneys so i got to see my urologist also, sooo!! This is what's going on with me.

[JamesAtlanta]

Thanks for the update about you. I read your profile of history, too.

Has your oncologist discussed the option of early chemo? At your age it’s very tolerable - I had it at age 53. Just a thought...

I’m on Zytiga + Prednisone now. PSA went from 1.8 to undetectable in 5-weeks. It’s a great treatment, too.

Please keep us posted. We are all pulling for you and praying for a great response to your next treatment!

James

[Cmdrdata]

James, before you go on with Zytiga or Xtandi (abiraterone or enzalutamide), make sure your doctor order a genetic test for AR-v7. According to some studies, (e.g., ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.12... these drugs depended on the absence of AR-V7 to be effective. They are not cheap (unlike Casodex (bicalutamide, the o;d/first generation anti-androgen).

[Dan59 in reply to Cmdrdata]

My expert from Harvard medical had little faith in the AR-V7 test, and felt it was better to try the drug and see if it worked. Zytiga seems to be working well for James now.

[Oren1]

I have been on Zytiga and PREDNISONE for 2 yrs. has controlled psa however, every medication has side effects... i've lost a large part of my muscle mass and energy , reduced intake that helped think prednisone was big problem. Now psa is up to 189 and Testosterone back on Elegard which reduce psa (89) and tes down to 3. Starting a clinical trial, you may want to check out as alternative.