Advanced prostate cancer

[leo2634]

Hi all I am being treated for advanced prostate cancer with bone and lymph node mets. I have all The confidence in my doctor decision for hormone therapy. My PSA was a 13 when I started therapy Feb 27th 2018 and now in April I'm 0.1 and I feel better then I have in years. My bone mets have stopped hurting and the only side effects are occasional hot flashes. My medication is Zytiga w/ Prednisone,ELIGARD injections every six months and Xgeva injections monthly to strengthen my bones. While I know it's not for everyone it seems to be working for me.

[pinejog]

You people are great.Your input has given me the what I needed to make a difficult decision.

In two weeks I will be telling my MO Lets move to Chemo.

Moving forward I will need additional feedback and support from all of you.

Thanks for welcoming me into the family and giving me the strait scoop.

Dennis

Boca Raton Fl

[caretkr in reply to pinejog]

chemo added in beginning with ADT gives good overall response as per our oncologist and same was used for my father. He had bone mets and lymph node involved at time of diagnosis.Hope you get best response.All the best!!

[snoraste]

Glad you're responding so well to the treatment. Keep it up!

[jkholmes]

Great to hear. I was dx 9/17 stage 4 with mets doing the same treatment psa is as low as can be tested . Only problems are hot flashes some joint pain and the worse ED. Hope we can both ride this train for years. Best wishes and enjoy everything you love.

[paulcross4]

Similar combination working for me with similar results. Not complaining

[RonL]

Pretty much the same here. I went castrate resistant a year ago. Zytiga is still working.

[Hazard]

Glad to read about your good response. I hope that you get many years out of ADT.

[bhr17]

It sure is great to hear of so many doing so well on their treatment, it gives us all hope. square off and take on the beast brother!

[leo2634 in reply to bhr17]

Must stay positive its more important than the meds. Take it head on and don't look back.

[Wdoug]

Great results and so happy you are feeling better.

[carlkl]

Who is your doctor

[leo2634 in reply to carlkl]

Dr. Gordon Brown of New Jersey Urology/Oncology. I was recommended to him by my primary doctor.

[carlkl]

Thanks. I may consider using him as my oncologist.

[leo2634]

Hi I hope it works out for you. Dr. Brown is well worth looking into,he is very knowledgeable and serves on several cancer boards. I wish you the best in our similar battle. Brother in arms. Leo

[DeanNelson]

Good morning, sorry to interject here but I am to have a bone scan Monday. I am terrified it going to be positive....What happens when you have mets to bones?

[ctarleton in reply to DeanNelson]

Here's a typical Standard of Care for that situation, under the care of an Oncologist, and hopefully one who specializes in Prostate Cancer:

nccn.org/patients/guideline...

Often something like temporary Casodex to prevent a transient Testosterone Flare, followed by Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT), with periodically injected Lupron (or an equivalent which will lower Testosterone), along with something for bone health, either Zometa (zoledronic acid) or Xgeva (denosumab). And, more recently coming into clinical practice, probably the offer of the addition of early Chemo with Docetaxel or perhaps early Zytiga with Prednisone in hopes of a longer Overall Survival, farther down the road. Life with low Testosterone levels will become a new normal. It will have some various side effects, but for most men, ... they cope and adjust. On the other hand, early detection and treatments will greatly lower the immediate risk of any bone mets becoming very painful, or causing "skeletal related events", which nobody wants to have. It will also be perfectly normal for you to be very stressed about it, particularly in the first year. Posting here and finding a face-to-face Prostate Cancer Support Group can also be very helpful.

Meanwhile, ... don't get ahead of yourself. All that possible future stuff is still hypothetical.

Good luck on your tests and scans. Keep us posted.

Charles

[DeanNelson]

Thank you Leo2634...

"It will also be perfectly normal for you to be very stressed about it, particularly in the first year"....

OMFG....If I have only I have a year...I would be so happy... I am thinking... I have like 3-6 months...I am so scared... peeing blood and I had the flu last week but....I feel freaking fine...Thats whats so confusing.....I don't feel bad at all....WTF!!!!..I just had a hard time peeing..a little blood....nothing so painful...nada....why bother.....know what I mean?

After I went to the urologist and he did a scope...he said I have to come back tomorrow to have a more extensive scope...After the more extensive scope and biopsy my physician called and told me I have PCa over he phone... and said....the best chance for you're survival is to remove you're prostrate and bladder..and we cannot do that here for you (Southeast Georgia Medical Center Brunswick, GA)...we need to send you to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Jacksonville Fl...BUT first we need a bone scan..."Click hung up"......and then left for the day....like he was ordering chicken at KFC.....a check list...a bullet point....done....next patient...I need to get home.....

I was standing in the bathroom when he called.. I just gotten out of the shower...I was god-smacked....stunned....dumfounded...as the towel hung around me....I stood there so long that I actually air dried...I didn't even cry at that time...just in shock...

I just stood there....i couldn't breathe..it was like... I just meet the grim reaper and all I could smell his shitty breathe..

I have to tell you...I have served in the military...been shot at...spit on...kicked....beat...yada......yada......yada.....

But these simple 4 words..."you have prostrate cancer" was the nuclear bomb that collapsed my world....WTF?!?...really?....how?....WHAT?....who?.....seriously?...

I will let you ALL know of my results as soon as I know...

[caretkr in reply to DeanNelson]

wish you luck. Gleason score with biopsy and full body scan(PSMA PET CT) were used for my father to plan his course of treatment. it can be tough but there are lot of treatment options now than before, so hang on. keep posting updates