Chemo #4 update

[henukit]

Had my 4th docetaxel, PSA is down to 0.8, (500 at DX on March, 23 prior to treatment start). Here's a history, each taken on the chemo day:

5/1 5/23 6/15 7/6

4.34 1.94 1.13 0.80

I like the absolute number, but drop rate is slowing down.

Still minimum chemo side-effects. The biggest one starts as soon as I finish fasting after the chemo: flare-up of autoimmune condition (Ankylosing Spondylitis): inflammation in spine but especially in the neck area (where I probably have still left some healthy tissue). The only way to hold it to take NSAIDs and grit my teeth. The day 5 is the worst. It gets easier after that but I need to come up with the strategy to handle it and minimize the damage.

[Tall_Allen]

That is a terrific response! I'm sorry about the side effects, though.

[softwaremom00]

Congrats on the good response to chemo. My husband and I often add Bosmeric-sr to our NSAIDs.(actually usually he takes the Bosmeric-Sr first then the NSAIDs) Sometimes it can help the inflammation and pain even more. I think it is normal for the helpfulness of the chemo to slow after the 4th round.. my husbands did. I hope you feel better soon.

hugs and prayers!

Softwaremom

[Nicnatno]

Excellent response. Very similar to mine. It appears those cancer cells are hormone sensitive. Just go about your business and try not to think about your PCa which is what I do and my quality of life is very good. Keep us posted.

Nick

[j-o-h-n]

he-nuked-it... congrats! Just remember to ungrit your teeth.

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 07/24/2018 11:37 AM EDT

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

Congratulations, you cracked the code!

I will do.

Thanks man!

[eggraj8]

I don’t understand why you are fasting while taking the Chemo. I have lunch while the Chemo is infused. Are you also on Prednisone? It may help with the inflammation. Day 5 is hard for me also as the effects of some of the steroids given during infusion wear off. You will get used to that. Keep it up and you will get used to the routine

[henukit in reply to eggraj8]

No, I'm not on Prednisone. I'm considering making an intramuscular shot on the second day though to help keep the flare up at bay.

Fasting has a couple of goals here:

1. It reduces autoimmune inflammation. Works for me like a charm: pain subsides on the day 2 and overall I feel much better through fast.

2. Minimize side-effects of the chemotherapy and increase it's efficiency against cancer. There's no hard evidence here yet, but to date I've had very minimal side-effects.

immuno-oncologynews.com/201...

stuff.co.nz/life-style/life...

cancer.gov/about-cancer/tre...

bmccancer.biomedcentral.com...

ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.120...

tcr.amegroups.com/article/v...

scientificamerican.com/arti...