Usually people do not breeze through Docetaxel. I would start after your holiday, chances are that the side effects will spoil that.
The Lutetium trial will cause fewer side effects, I would prefer that over Radium 233 or Cabazitaxel. However, you will be randomised. If you do not want that, you have to get the treatment in Germany where it is offered by several hospitals outside of trials. However, I doubt the NHS will pay that for you.
Thanks, this is all useful information. If a good treatment option were available in Germany I maybe able to fund it, I pretty much thought that most countries had the same or similar treatment options.
If you decide to go to Germany, they are also testing another radiopharmaceutical there that may be even better (Ac-225-PSMA-617). In fact, they are experimenting with combining the two.
The Lutetium 177 or PSMA PRLT therapy was developed in Germany, so this time Germany is ahead regarding this therapy. I compiled a list which shows mainly university clinics which offer PSMA therapy. Outside the guidelines, however. This list is not complete. These pages are in German and I guess it can be quite some effort to finally get the treatment done.
In the following clinic they made the observation that you better have a Lutetium 177 therapy before chemo or Radium 223:
But in Germany the general recommendation is also, to use Lutetium 177 as the last resort. This because there have been no long term trials yet.
As Allan mentioned, in Germany they use Actinium 225 too or combined with Lu177. This may not be available at many clinics in this list. This Ac-225 is usually applied when there are bone mets.
In all this will not cure you but could extend overall survival more than a Chemo would.
Your statement "In all this will not cure you but could extend overall survival more than a Chemo would." does not seem to be supported by the data at hand. What it says is: "Patients previously treated with chemotherapy had a significantly shorter survival (median of 19 months). Survival was also shorter in patients with previous radium-223 (223Ra) treatment (17 months)." This was an observational study, not a randomized trial. I attribute this observation to the fact that the more heavily pretreated patients were the more progressed/sicker patients at the time of therapy. It does NOT in any way imply that it should be first in patients who are in an equivalent state of progression.
I had Radium 223 a few months ago...three cycles of the planned six. It did not work for me so my MO switched me to something else. Was a great surprise that it did not work.
My MO determined it wasn't working from the scans I had after cycle three. The bone scan showed continuing met growth. Was a big disappointing surprise as I was sure it would work.
I am sorry to hear you have the same situation. My MO suggested a trial would offer the best treatment option for me after the Radium 223. Can't say if it is working or not yet. I was told it would be cycle 5 before I would know. I start cycle 3 on the 15th.
I'm sorry the NEPTUNE trial did nothing for you. I was hopeful that combining two different kinds of checkpoint inhibitors might succeed while each failed individually. Immunotherapies have so far been very disappointing for prostate cancer.
I haven't done either, but they are both good choices. Ra-223 is a powerful alpha emitter with affinity to bone mets. Lu-177-PSMA-617 is a weaker beta-emitter, but is non-specific for bone mets. Here's a comparison:
I've talked to patients who found Cabazitaxel milder in terms of side effects than docetaxel, but some found it worse. It's very dependent on the individual.
Perhaps either of them may work better now that you've had immunotherapy.
If you are in the UK, this says that the VISION trial of Lu-177-PSMA-617 HAS begun recruiting there. But it is randomized 2:1. They prefer TWO taxane treatments, so you may be better off trying Cabazitaxel before signing up. If you are randomized to not get the drug, you can still get Xofigo, since it is standard-of-care. It seems you have nothing to lose and you may possibly get another treatment if you do Cabazitaxel first.:
Strongly suggest you consider German treatment. My dx was June 2017 - psa 143. Had ADT and six taxane treatments winter 2017/2018. PSA down to 20, Zytiga for short while brought me to PSA 8.0 but stopped as recommended by Heidelberg when I was approved for treatment. 3 x Lutetium/ Actinium combination every 8 weeks - no side effects at all - slight dry mouth but not much. PSA last week 0.5. Overall treatment cost was ca €28,000.
28k was for testing and three rounds of treatment. 12k fit first test/ treatment then about 8k each fir the other two. If u go to the hospital web site and follow links you’ll find the international site where you can upload documents and apply for treatment
Surely a 2nd round of Docataxel is better than Cabazitaxel as it is far stronger.
You can then have Cabazitaxel later. Radium223 should prob be kept until bone mets dictate you need it. Radiotherapy provides immediate pain relief before 223 is your option.
LU177 may have been authorised in UK and US by then.
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