My husband is post chemo and now has had 4 consecutive rises on Xtandi. His doubling time is 2.2 months though he is still at a low number- 2.5 (up from a nadir of .78). Dr. told us on Friday that we need to make a decision this week about what treatment to pursue next as his cancer has been very aggressive historically. We are being presented with two options:
1. Beginning docetaxel again. He had 9 rounds before with an extremely positive response. He began right at diagnosis and his last cycle was exactly one year ago.
2. A short cycle of high dose radiation. It would be 4 times over 2.5 weeks. There is no research to support this but the radiation oncologist and Dr. Courtney both seem to believe it could likely keep his PSA down for longer, not increasing survival time but increasing time until system treatment is necessary. Right now most recent PET, bone and CT scans basically show his cancer as not “active” anywhere other than his prostate.
Looking for input on choices above but also info on where we can get the most sensitive scans that are available. I know this would likely be paying out of pocket but if there is activity anywhere else that is too small to be picked up by the scans that he has had at his PSA level, I feel like we need to know this to make a truly informed decision. At diagnosis cancer was throughout lymph nodes up to diaphragm, and in bone marrow and bones throughout axial and appendicular skeletal bodies. We are confused, struggling, looking for guidance.
Thankful for this group and any thoughts, ideas, input!
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joekaty
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If you could squeeze some extra time out of Xtandi with indomethacin, that would be great....sadly, we need more drugs and they just are not there yet... If that fails, sometimes people can go back on Xtandi after treatment with docetaxol--get sensitive again..
You could consider to discuss the possibility of getting a Ga 68 PSMA or 18F DCFPyl PET/CT (the most sensitive tests) and if it is positive for metastasis you could discuss the possibility of getting treatment with Lu 177 PSMA. There are clinical trials for these studies and for the Lu 177 PSMA treatment.
I don't understand why you're considering option #2. The recent STAMPEDE trial showed there was no benefit (and potential side effects) to treating the prostate when there are so many metastases. What do you mean by "increasing the time until systemic treatment" is needed? Chemo, Lupron and Xtandi have all been systemic treatment and I assume he is continuing on Lupron, no matter what.
There's no reason not to do docetaxel again, followed by a rechallenge with Zytiga. Sometimes chemo may re-sensitize a man to the second line hormonals.
Has he had Xofigo yet? What about Provenge?There are many clinical trials he may qualify for
I don't see any point to getting a more accurate scan - what could you possibly do differently? You already know he has multiple mets - what's the difference if there are more? It is a good idea to track progression using whatever you used before (probably bone scan/CT).
I just posted again but basically...the reason to not do chemo again is that he felt like shit, had multiple ER visits and some hospitalizations, but to him most significantly he looked very ill and it scared our two youngest sons- 5 and 6 at the time. I agreed that option 2 was a dumb idea but it was two UTSW physicians recommending it as an equal option to taxotere. By increasing “time to systemic treatment” he was talking about delaying time until docetaxel was needed- not the systemic treatments he was/is already on. We did do another scan and it actually was helpful as my husband is in total denial and although he had metastasis basically everywhere in his bones- a PET in December did not show increased activity- cancer appeared quiet- but the one two months later showed multiple areas of activity in his spine. He needed to make the connection between rising PSA and increased cancer activity in a concrete way which a further scan did show. I diligently follow your posts and responses for empirical, evidence based data and information...but as a therapist (and human) people’s decision making is far from being cut and dry. My husband went to Dartmouth but if you were to have a conversation with him about his cancer you’d probably seriously question his cognitive abilities. Denial is a powerful emotion.
I read a book where the author described our consciousness as a man (intentional thinking) atop an elephant (emotions, unconscious instincts) who is under the illusion that he is in charge of where the elephant goes. We can justify anything. The elephant is really in charge but does rely on the man from time to time because he can see farther. I have learned that my elephant is in control, but have gotten, with practice, more adept at understanding where the elephant is going.
I would imagine that there is a prostate cancer support group in Dallas. I think it helps to hear other men's experience of the disease.
Started with Casodex and didn’t work- went straight to taxotere as he was hospitalized in ICU at the time and needed a fast response urgently. It was risky but worked enough to stop the bleeding and get him out of the hospital.
Also, I am very aware of how LITTLE we know, unfortunately, even with how hard I have tried to read, research, stay up to date with treatments, etc. it’s quite overwhelming.
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Decision time Lutetium or AM509
Decision Time is Coming
Have to make a decision next week 
Time for Lu-177 Travel input needed
First PSA rise in three years, watch for doubling time? Or look into scans?
