PSA from 86.6-1

[arete1105]

On 7/18 PSA at 86.6.

8/7/18 Lupron + Casodex

On 9/14 PSA at 1.

Question- is that kind of a PSA drop normal, average?

Is Lupron + Casodex considered a cancer killer or just slows it down?

[RyderLake2]

My experience is that kind of a PSA drop is normal. You have two agents blocking your androgen receptors so you are depriving your cancer of testosterone. By inducing a remission you are not killing the cancer cells but you are definitely slowing them down.

[arete1105 in reply to RyderLake2]

Interesting about HT just slowing cancer down. My MO said HT is a cancer killer. But how can it be a cancer killer when down the road cancer (supposed to be killed) becomes cancer resistant. I don't trust the MO.

[RyderLake2 in reply to arete1105]

To properly answer that one would need to know a whole lot more about your cancer. Has your prostate been biopsied? If so what was your Gleason score? Has the cancer metastasized outside of the prostate bed? Is it in your bones? If this is the case the best you can hope for is to induce cancer dormancy and bring about a lasting remission. Good luck!

[arete1105 in reply to RyderLake2]

G- 3+4, Mets in T12, T2, one rib, bilateral lymph nodes in groin.

[arete1105 in reply to RyderLake2]

If T deprivation is slowing down the cancer, why not focus on a killing treatment up front? Isn't this like killing the snake by cutting off its tail 1" at a time?

Everyone focuses on the PSA count and rejoices when it gets real low, but shouldn't one focus on stopping the cancer instead of just slowing it down?

[Hidden]

It is a palliative treatment only. Discuss micro-metastases with the pro. In lay terms it is the microscopic cancer cells floating around in your lymphatic and vascular system looking for a place to land and colonize. Your treatment is not known to kill these little bastards; only delay. Some have delayed for over twenty years; some as little as four. Note: at some point he may drop the Casodex,. At which time 20% experience a drop in PSA. This is my experience and how it was explained to me. I was fortunate in that my PSA dropped from 1.9 to undetectable as soon as the half life of Casodex cleared my body. About 90 days.

Final note, I am biased toward early and aggressive treatment with chemotherapy. Hence the suggestion to discuss micro-metastases.

Good luck and keep in this bastard.

Gourd Dancer

[arete1105 in reply to Hidden]

I did discuss low-dose chemo with him and he said it is either high-dose or no-dose. And you don't want to do high-dose this early as then you have shot your best shot, and may be too early. I am thinking about going to Mexico. There they can do low-dose chemo, if they lean in that direction, based on my medical records.

[j-o-h-n in reply to arete1105]

to arete1105. To Mexico? Oh Dios mío!

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Thursday 09/20/2018 5:38 PM EDT

[Hidden in reply to arete1105]

Of course is Oncologist is correct. However, I would term it stand dosage versus low dosage. Some may term my regime high dosage - Chemotherapy consisted of ketoconazole and doxorubicin for weeks 1, 3, and 5 and estramustine and docetaxel and for weeks 2, 4 and 6. During weeks 7 and 8, no treatment was received. For three complete cycles lasting six months. In other words, Nine infusions of docetaxel and nine 24 hour infusion of doxorubin; plus 30 mg of prednisone each day for the six months and typical Lupron/Eligard injections. Why fear chemotherapy?

If you want to go to Mexico, that is your business and I would never criticize one's metastatic prostrate cancer treatment. Good luck in stopping this bastard dead in its tracks.

Gourd Dancer