The moment has come.

[joancarles]

Zytiga has stopped working after 19 months. There is no progression in gammography, but my lymph nodes have increased. It seems that the next path is chemotherapy. I would need advice and how can I find myself.

[jader4]

My husband is going through his second time doing chemotherapy (docetaxyl). He did 6 rounds in late 2017-March2018. And is in the middle of perhaps 8 rounds since January. The first time, we were so scared, but the process was painless, and he had very few reactions except fatigue for a few days.

The good thing is that it lowered his PSA significantly and shrank his tumors A LOT. He actually felt much better with reduced urinary and rundown side effects from the cancer. I know the chemo is keeping him alive, and letting him live well most of the time.

I would advise you to drink water nearly constantly from the day before chemo all the way through. My husband takes a bottle with him wherever he goes. He got behind on water the first time with unpleasant consequences. Keep ahead of this. We also run a humidifier in our bedroom, and he moisturizes his lips and skin often, something he never did before.

I wish you lots of luck, and hope it provides you many years of loving life.

[joancarles in reply to jader4]

I'm 51 years old.

Thank you very much for the information. And a lot of luck

[JP63 in reply to joancarles]

I’ve done docetaxel and now on cabazitaxel. Side effects are tolerable. I agree with hydration. Drink lots and lots of water especially the first week.

[Lombardi24]

I am doing chemo right now. Docetaxel

[joancarles in reply to Lombardi24]

Hi. How is it working for you? Are you having many side effects?

[Lombardi24 in reply to joancarles]

A little nausea...and fatigue, but that's it

[Lombardi24 in reply to Lombardi24]

Not too bad

[joancarles in reply to Lombardi24]

I appreciate the information. I hope you are very lucky and the treatment works very well

[NPfisherman]

I take it you switched from prednisone to dexamethasone already then while on zytiga??

Fish

[joancarles in reply to NPfisherman]

I live in Spain. I have discussed it with my doctor a couple of times and he does not value it.

[Lombardi24 in reply to joancarles]

You will need DeX if you do docetaxel. Right before infusion

[whatsinaname in reply to Lombardi24]

Yes, indeed. It was used as one of the anti-chemo intravenous drugs given to me before each infusion of docetaxel.

[snoraste]

Did you consider skipping chemo in favor of Lu177/Ac225?

[whatsinaname in reply to snoraste]

Consider Lu-177/Ac-225 seriously instead of the poison docetaxel.

But, if you have to do (chemo) it, check your PSA often enough. If it is not going down, take a PSMA PET-CT scan and if it shows that your mets have increased in both size and qty, then quit docetaxel immediately. The PSMA PET-CT scan will also indicate whether you are PSMA avid. If you are PSMA avis, then LU-177/AC-225 is definitely for you.

[joancarles in reply to whatsinaname]

What do you think of doing a cleaning with Quimio and when it is necessary to go back to lu177. lu177 can only be applied once and can be used when necessary

[whatsinaname in reply to joancarles]

Chemo did not work for me and hence I am biased against it naturally.

Besides, the basic fact is that chemo (docetaxel) kills or is supposed to kill both your healthy cells as well as your cancer cells (killed only my healthy cells, didn't kill any of my cancer cells). Lu-177 ONLY targets your cancer cells, leaving your healthy cells untouched.

Whatever you decide, all the very best, joancarles !!!

[joancarles in reply to whatsinaname]

Can it be applied at different times? or only once

[whatsinaname in reply to joancarles]

I don't think it can be used only once. I will have to check with my MO on that issue.

But, I think that I read (on this board) that someone in Australia took two infusions, was OK for about two years, then PSA started rising again and he went back for another infusion or two. So after two years, he was going to take Lu-177 again.

[Nicnatno]

Mi Amigo, I tolerated chemo well. The main side effect was fatigue. It was similar to having a flu. I countered it with walking and light stretches. You have to force yourself. I felt a little nausea but I drank ginger tea to offset it. After 3 rounds it brought my PSA to 0.1. My PSA has remained low since the 6th and final one in July 2017. I believe you have to hit this "sucka" hard. I was given 5 mg of prednisone twice a day for strength and this gave the appetite to eat after 5 days. I continued to work full time and it did not impact my decision making. I feel very good. With your age, I believe you will do well and with great results. Buena suerte. Tu amigo

Nick

Dx: 03/2017

PSA: 415

On lupron every 12 weeks and xgeva every 6 weeks.

[joancarles in reply to Nicnatno]

Thank you very much for your writing. I hope you help me and I can get it for as long as possible. I hope everything

[Hidden]

I finished the six rounds with daily prednisone plus have been on 30 day Lupron shots. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. The anti nausea pills helped after each round, drink lots of liquids. Gatorade, water, ginger ale, whatever tastes good to you. Get your rest, but also be as active as you can handle, don’t let it run your life. Smoothie are also helpful. I will be getting a scan soon and hopefully it worked as expected. Stay strong!

[joancarles in reply to Hidden]

Thanks you very much

[Hidden]

I have no personal experience to share, as I have not (yet) gone down that pathway. I CAN share the importance of meditation, prayer, deep thought, reflection on hope. I CAN share the importance of daily exercise no matter how poorly you may feel. And I can celebrate with you the huge number of people on this forum who are also sending up their good thoughts for you.

[joancarles in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much

[SeosamhM]

Joancarles - Is the immunotherapy "Provenge" readily available in Spain? I am same age as you and just over the last 3 months became demonstrably resistant to basic ADT. I was put on Zytiga and was just approved for Provenge. Good luck. - Joe M.

[j-o-h-n]

Buena suerte, buena salud y buenas risas.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 03/22/2019 4:28 PM EDT