Chemotherapy, Blood Transfusion etc.

[Muzpapa]

Hi

My husband had stage 4 prostate cancer. Right after we found his cancer last summer, doctor ordered Lupron shots. It has been keeping his Testosterone level down but not PSA.

He started Zytiga in spring but it failed after a couple of months. So he started Chemotherapy in July. Prior to Chemo his PSA was 318, after the first Chemo it went down to 307, after second Chemo went down to 236 however, after third Chemo his PSA went back to 320.

Last weekend, he was admitted hospital because his blood pressure went down to 60/40, his heartbeat went up to 138 and he was extremely anemic. He stayed there for three days, had blood transfusions and extra medications, then he was released.

Last summer his hemoglobin level was over 12, in spring it was 10 and after the third chemo it went down to 7.4. And last week before the blood transfusion, it went down closer to 5 or 6 (he can't remember it and it doesn't show on his chart).

What does all these mean? Is it worth doing Chemo?

He is supposed to go to fourth Chemo today but we cancel it. We are waiting for his Oncology doctor for the further instruction.

At the same time, he has an appointment tomorrow with OHSU which does Vision clinical trails. We don't know what his hemoglobin level is right now after the transfusion. Do you think it's worth to go to the appointment? IF my husband will be rejected for sure, I don't want him to go there and get disappointed.

Any comment/opinion/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

PS Sorry for my English. It's my second language.

[Tall_Allen]

It does not appear that your husband meets the minimum requirement for hemoglobin, at least not before his latest transfusion:

"Hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL (9 g/dL is equivalent to 90 g/L and 5.59 mmol/L) "

Also, they are no longer recruiting:

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show...

Your oncologist will advise you as to whether it is safe to resume chemo.

[Muzpapa in reply to Tall_Allen]

Hi Tall_Allen,

Thank you very much for your response.

Since the Vision Trial coordinator at OHSU encouraged us to come to the appointment, we went there to meet the doctor today. We found out my husband's hemoglobin level after the transfusion was 8.2. The doctor thinks his low hemoglobin level is due to the chemotherapy and said we have till middle of October to make it over 9. She encouraged him to sign up for the trial. So he did. At this point we thought he don't have much to loose anyway.

Meanwhile we are trying to coordinate with our oncologist for his situation.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Muzpapa]

So they are still recruiting?

[Muzpapa in reply to Tall_Allen]

Yes, at least at OHSU. They said the deadline is in the middle of October.

However, the coordinator made my husband's doctor appointment on July 31 and the earliest appointment was today. So, I'm not sure if anyone could still make an appointment with the doctor and do all the necessary tests before the deadline now.

[j-o-h-n]

Your English is very good.... God Bless your husband, you and your family... Would you be kind enough to give us some information about your husband. age? location? Psa and Gleason scores? Treatments to date? Treatment center(s)? Doctor's name(s). All information is voluntary but it help us help him and helps us too. Thank you.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 09/10/2019 7:16 PM DST

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

Hi j-o-h-n,

Thank you very much for your response.

My husband is 77 years old and we live in the Pacific Northwest.

His current PSA is 319 and Gleason score is 9.

He has been taking Lupron Shots (Sept 2019 - current), Zytiga (Feb 2019 to June 2019), Chemotherapy (Docetaxel?) for three times since July 2019.

His oncologist is at Kaiser Permanente.

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

Thank you for your reply... You're in God's country....and may he watch over all of you..

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 09/10/2019 11:15 PM DST