Zytiga how long

[Redlog]

I have Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer which has spread to lymph nodes, spine, femur, iliac. Gleason score 8. Taking 1000mg if zytiga daily along with 5mg of prednisone. I’m told the zytiga will only be effective for 2 years. Currently my PSA is .13/ how long will the zytiga continue to work?

[dlestercarlson]

The length of time from what I understand is individually different for every person. I tool Zytiga, it worked for only 16 months.

[Redlog in reply to dlestercarlson]

So what now for you? Chemo?

[dlestercarlson in reply to Redlog]

After the Zytiga, I went on Xtandi for 4 months. It didn't work. So I've now had 13 Chemo treatments of Docetaxel and Predizone. With the Zytiga, Xtandi and Doxetaxel I've still been getting the Lupron shots every six months. After the 13th Chemo treatment my doctor suggested a Chemo holiday. So I've had only the Lupron for the last five months. I'm just starting up the treatment again. This time I'm getting 10 radiation treatments to my spine to get rid of a couple tumors that are causing me some pain. Then as soon as I've finished the radiation, I'll start the Docetaxel and Predizone again. I have been able to tolerate the Docetaxel quite good so I hope that it works for a long time.

[Jerseygirl5 in reply to dlestercarlson]

Just to note that docetaxel is a chemo and Jevtana is a different one. Good for you for going “bonus rounds” on docetaxel. My father did this also and took zytiga until it leveled off (ie wasn’t working anymore) then xtandi also for a few months. He’s on Jevtana now and tolerates it as well as he did docetaxel a few years ago

[Caring7]

There is no definitive time frame. As my husbandʻs uber-oncologist (research guy) says -- ride the pony as long as you can, and even a little longer (pony express analogy). So stay with it as long as it works and as long as you donʻt have side effects you canʻt take.

FYI: My husband took Xtandi for a little over two years before it started to fail. He was told (by uberoncologist) that switching to Zytiga only had a 10-15% chance of working. Guess what. Working -- very well, for over six months. Everyone is different, and esp. with Advanced PCa, itʻs all wacky!

In the meantime, you might (if you have not yet) consider taxotere chemo (early therapy per CHAARTED and other very successful studies), Provenge (Immunotherapy), and/or Xofigo (RA225 - specialized radiation-like therapy). My husband did all of this while he was still on just Lupron and Casodex. He went to castration-resistant pretty quickly so we werenʻt sure it all worked, but that was over two years ago and heʻs doing so well he has to come out of semi-retirement!

[YostConner]

I got 32 months. It varies by individual.

[EZgoi]

3 1/2 years for my hubby....now on xtandi but not tolerating it very well. Had to drop dosage from 4 to 3 pills per day...better but still se...may have to go down to 2 for a good qol..waiting for another couple of weeks to see. HE had no se from zytiga/prednisone except severe thinning of skin..every time he bumped into anything left huge bruises. Both arms were always black.

[paulcross4]

I only got about 9 months out of it. Side effects were certainly there but tolerable. Giving Xtandi a shot now.

[Magnus1964]

I was on Zytiga for 3 1/2 years as part of a drug trial. At the end when my PSA began to rise, my doctor told me I was last man standing. Suggestion, take Vitamin D3, I take 1000 iu's.

[Walter_Gould]

I have been on it 8 years.

[Kevinski65]

Are u taking it with Lupron?

[Walter_Gould in reply to Kevinski65]

Yes

[Walter_Gould]

18 months to two years is only an average time that Zytiga remains effective. Each individual reacts differently to Zytiga.