My guys most recent diagnosis indicated that the cancer has metastasized to his liver. 3 masses. His age is 52. His original diagnosis was mets to bones and lymphnodes. Since the cancer has progressed, I am looking for advice on treatments for soft tissue mets (liver, lung, etc.) from males age 45 - 55. Thank you in advance for your feedback/guidance, etc. BTW, his first taxotere chemo treatment was Dec. 14th.
Connie
So he is already on taxotere - so what is your question?
I am worried about the progression of the cancer and can this chemo STOP THE PROGRESSION. I need this man to LIVE!!! I have read that soft tissue mets are no good... I need this cancer to STOP!!.. Next chemo is on Jan 4th... After 3 treatments the doc will rescan... So, do I sit and wait....
Thinking of you both as your husband goes in for treatment tomorrow. Good wishes being sent your way.
Hello, Thank you!!!... Working on questions for the doctor... Praying that the SE are minimal... He will be receiving taxotere chemo and zometa tomorrow. How are you and your husband?
Hello Connie,
I'm sorry to hear of your guy's condition. 52 is young to be hit with this serious a disease.
The taxotere treatment that he is receiving won't cure him but may give him a longer life. How much longer depends on how sensitive his cancer is to the treatment. That varies from not at all to highly sensitive with years of benefit. I don't know of any way to find out other than to try it and see.
The next treatment that I would recommend researching is radionuclide treatment. In that treatment, a molecule that binds to prostate cancer cells (an "antibody") is bonded to a radioactive atom. A solution of this complex is injected into the patient. It circulates in the blood stream and, when one of the molecular complexes touches a prostate tumor cell, it binds to it and the radiation from the radioactive atom kills the tumor cell. It's benefits are that relatively few non-prostate cells are radiated, the tumors can be anywhere in the body, including in soft tissue, the cancer cells can be of different types including neurendocrine tumors, and the treatment can work even with men that have failed ADT and chemotherapy. It's also possible to find out if the treatment is likely to help without trying it. The docs can inject a solution of antibody plus a very low dose radioactive atom that will show up on a scanner screen. If the screen lights up in the cancer zones, the patient's tumor cells express the "antigen" that the antibody binds to and the treatment is likely to help. As with all the therapies for this damned disease, some men can be helped a lot and others only a little.
There are a number of versions of this therapy. Search Google for (prostate cancer radionuclide) to find more info. There's also a lot of info here on healthunlocked. Search for "177" to find postings. "177" will retrieve postings mentioning Lutetium-177, the most commonly used radioactive isotope used for this treatment - though there are others too.
Radionuclide treatment is experimental in the U.S. and you may need to find a clinical trial to try it. It is approved in Germany and Australia so it's possible to get treatment in those countries without entry into a clinical trial (though clinical trials can be very good if you can find a good one.)
Best of luck.
Alan
Connie,
I should also say that, if you guy hasn't yet had Zytiga or Xtandi, they are very powerful drugs that can make a significant difference. Lucky men (is anyone with PCa lucky?) can get years of benefit from them. They are already approved and available and will probably be prescribed for your man if an when the taxotere stops working.
Nalakrats suggested some other experimental drugs if your man has neuroendocrine disease. If he does, Zytiga and Xtandi are unlikely to work but the radionuclides may still work. Not too many oncologists test for neurondocrine disease. It is uncommon, but it's serious for those who have it and being tested is not a bad idea.
Alan
Hello Alan, Yes, he has already been on zytiga. Zytiga was stopped since they started taxotere.
You're a fxxxing genius.... but a lousy fisherman...
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Sunday 12/30/2018 1:41 AM EST
Hi MiHombre,
I also have mets to lymph nodes and liver. Chemo was both Docetaxel and Carboplatin which worked for me. Carboplatin targets liver mets. Had 6 cycles.
Best wishes. Never Give In.
Mark, Atlanta
Oh Mark, I was actually thinking of you the other day and wondering how you were getting on with your treatment. So you have completed your six cycles and the tumors were sensitive to it? Are you no longer on Carbo?
Best wishes
Mel.
Hi Mel,
Half way through another round of chemo again with Docetaxel and Carboplatin. Once again it is working with PSA dropping and liver lesions shrinking. Do not know how much chemo is reasonable or possible, because at end will be a total of 12 cycles.
Thanks for thinking of me.
Never Give In.
Mark, Atlanta
Hi Mark.
And how are you feeling? How are you tolerating the treatment?
I hope the treatment will continue to be successful for you.
I suppose how reasonable it is to continue treatment after a certain amount of time and a certain number of cycles really depends on how you are feeling and what side-effects you are experiencing. But let's not look at that right now. At the moment you are doing the treatment and it is working for you, that's the main thing. One thing I have learned on the journey with Paul was - and I only realised that looking back on it now - that looking too far ahead never helped. It only made us more afraid and more tense about the future.
Good luck and continue to post.
Love, Mel.
Hello Mark,
Did the chemo kill the liver mets? Also, what type of PCa was in the liver? Is your liver currently clean/no mets? Thanks in advance for your response.
Connie
Hi Connie.
Firstly, I am so sorry to hear about your husband's situation and the progression of his illness.
Your husband's situation sounds similar to my late husband's situation. First he had mets in bones and lymph nodes for 13 years but then the cancer spread to his liver. He was put on Taxatir first but when it was obvious that the cancer didn't react to the Chemo treatment he was changed to Carbo Platin.
From what I know, Carbo Platin is the Chemotherapy treatment most common for people with liver mets. I don'tg actually know why my husband was put on Taxatir first. Anyway, it is good that you are researching all the options.
How is your husband getting on with the treatment? Was he symptomatic?
Perhaps it would be a good idea to ask the oncologist to do a scan soon again - after cycle three at least - to see if there is any response from the cancer so that, if not, your husband can be changed to a different Chemotherapy treatment as soon as possible.
All the best to you both
Mel.
For all those in treatment with liver Mets...
Liver lesions
Jevtana failed, next Lutetium-177
