My dads stage 4 castrate resistant prostate cancer diagnosis

[jberg22]

Hi there, I just wanted to introduce my dads situation and maybe get some feedback from others you either may have been in his same situation or just to shed light on his prognosis.

My dad had an lrp (robotic prostatectomy) in May of 2016. He had a Gleason 4+4 very agressive form of prostate cancer so he opted for surgical removal. His PSA was undetectable for a few months after. Slowly his PSA started to rise (0.5 - 2) over a few months. He did radiation 30 sessions followed by hormonal therapy shots (2 shots every 3 months or so). His PSA remained low in 2017 however started to rise towards the end of 2018.

PSA went up to 180 and then 230 within a month. I had him started on eligard and some other strong hormonal shots while we got some more CT's done. The CTs showed that his prostate cancer had moved to the omentum (peritoneal area) several mesenteric nodules appeared.

The shots helped and brought his psa down to 13.1 and then 9.1 in about 2 months time. I'm currently awaiting the results from a psa we did yesterday. In February we started on Zytiga in combination with prednisone.

I believe the prostate cancer spread to his abdominal area after the LRP by accident (most likely) but could've moved to the peritoneal area through the blood. It's very rare and uncommon for the cancer to have moved here on its own. Usually it goes to the bones or lymph nodes.

Anyhow, our current oncologist thinks he will hopefully be good up to 2 years with Zytiga but then it will become resistant and he will need to have chemo done. She has given us about a 4 year average lifespan but only God knows that.

I'd like to hear from anyone else with knowledge of prostate cancer moving to the peritoneal area and if there are any tips or advice for his prognosis. I'm watching all the studies like a hawk and even having different hospitals compare CT scans to see how the nodules have progressed. The two CTs we have showing the nodules were performed at different hospitals so I had to provide each hospital with the CT imagery for comparison. My dad is 66 years old next week.

Thanks for reading this and good luck to everyone else in a similar situation!

Jay

[Tall_Allen]

If he does chemo first, he can move onto Zytiga after 18 weeks. If he does Zytiga first, it may be 2 years before he can try Chemo.

[Hidden in reply to Tall_Allen]

So if Zytiga fails in two years what is next if chemo is out. Just finished radiation and now heading to oncologist in 3 months for drug routine that is lupron and Zytiga continuing until 2020 June. Been on same drugs since June 2018.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Hidden]

There are many medicines available now, and even more then. Why is chemo out?

[Hidden in reply to Tall_Allen]

Just saw your post that said there was a two year wait period if you do Zytiga first as I am.

[j-o-h-n]

Please tell us a bit more about your Dad if you don't mind. Location? Treatment center(s)? Doctor's name(s)? All info is voluntary but it helps us help you and helps us too. If you respond please do in a future post (and not to me). Thank you.

Bless you for being a caretaker for your Dad.

As far as a doctor predicting 4 years for your Dad, next time ask her to give ME (not you) the winning lottery numbers. Sometimes Doctors are so smart that they're actually stupid.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 04/21/2019 5:45 PM DST

[jberg22 in reply to j-o-h-n]

See my reply just below this message 😉

[j-o-h-n]

To Jberg22, Thank you for your response and for your Dad's response to his rad and meds. Tell him to keep up the good work and to enjoy his life with his family and friends. Fortunately Pca is a slow growing disease and he will be around for a very very long time. I would like to wish good luck to the Maple Leafs but If I did my son would kill me. He of course is a New York Fan (Rangers/Islanders). You're Dad and you all must laugh as much as you can. Laughter is the best medicine. Here is one for your Dad, I hope he laughs:

A "Huge" man is in the green grocery section of this U.S. supermarket looking at melons.

A young produce clerk walks over to see if needs help.

The Huge man asks the clerk "if these melons were grown in Canada"?

The clerk says "from Canada? Why all they have up there is prostitutes and hockey players".

The Huge man says to the clerk "hey buddy you better watch it, my wife is from Canada?'

The clerk says "er er.... oh oh what team does she play for?"

Good luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Saturday 04/27/2019 6:48 PM EDT

[jberg22]

We are located in Toronto and have been doing treatment (radiation) at Sunnybrook and LRP, Hormone therapy (zytiga) through chemo oncologist at Humber River Hospital as it is closer to home.

I’m happy to report that my dads PSA came back today. Went down from 9.1 in early Feb to 2.5 on April 18th test. Free PSA of 1.50 ug/L and PSA free /total of 0.60.

He is on Zytiga + Prednisone for 2 months now and a shot of Eligard every 3 months. Seems to be working for him now, just awaiting some feedback on whether the nodules have shrunk or not based on CT scan changes from end of December to early April of this year.

My dad takes lots of care in his diet, lots of greens, turmeric, supplements provided by his homeopathic doc as well as a high dose vitamin C IV I believe 1000 mg once every 3-4 weeks. He’s been doing that for about 2 years now.

Jay