What happens after two years of Zytiga and Prednisone?

I have been on Zytiga and Prednisone 5Mg for approx. 17 months with a two year plan, ending in April 2020. PSA undetectable the whole time and I feel great except for a few side effects. What can I expect after I stop taking both drugs as it relates to life span????

[NPfisherman]

And you are stopping because???? My MO has some people that have been on Zytiga since approval and doing fine.... Is it because you had localized type or minimal disease and it is time to stop and see if disease is resolved?? In that case, you just have to wait and see... Life span depends on what happens regarding disease progression...PSA doubling time...location of mets....multiple things play a role...

Good luck...

Don Pescado

[Hidden in reply to NPfisherman]

Thanks Don: I will complete two years of Ziytiga and Prednisone next April. The plan is for me to stop and I guess, see what happens. The only objection I have had, has been the many disruptive sweats during the day and night. I deal with them and am happy to be here.

[NPfisherman in reply to Hidden]

Yep, get those too at times...Guessing you had radiation and it is time to stop and see if the disease is resolved....I have another brother doing the same...he had SBRT on a bone met...D1....he tests today and my prayers are with him....

Good luck, brother....

Don Pescado

[Hidden in reply to NPfisherman]

My preference is to stop the ZP at the end of two years and see what transpires.

[NPfisherman in reply to Hidden]

OK....so you chose that ....If your PSA is "undetectable", then several guys have stopped to get their T back in order and have a "vacation" from ADT.... "undetectable" buys time before having to go back on ADT....Schwah had 3 mets--did Z/P +ADT+Zometa and Celebrex...He took off after 18 months and has not posted in 3 months--guessing he is OK... Some try to get T up quickly and enjoy the effects of it... Friedman wrote "The New Testosterone Treatment" about how DHT is the real enemy....A brother I know took Dutasteride while on vacation and his T went to 560 in 3 months...

Nalakrats agrees with DHT is the enemy--he had a vacation for over a year and went back on ADT voluntarily....Nal is "on break" from the board.... He takes time to do research, have fun, etc...

Good luck....

Don Pescado

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks that is what I plan to do

[Hidden in reply to NPfisherman]

Thanks

[Magnus1964]

Why are you stopping after two years? I was on zytiga and prednisone for 3 1/2 years . Then my PSA started to rise. The only reason to stop is when it stops working.

[Hidden in reply to Magnus1964]

Thank you for that. Something I will have to discuss with my MO. What did you do once your PSa started to rise? And how long has that been?

[Magnus1964 in reply to Hidden]

After zytiga I went on xtandi. That is what I am on now. It's a trial of xtandi and a mystery drug to see if the efficacy can be extended. So far it's be 3 1/2 for xtandi also.

[Hidden in reply to Magnus1964]

Thanks. Do you mean that you have been on xtandi + a mystery drug??? For 3 1/2 years. Is your PSA undectable?

[Magnus1964 in reply to Hidden]

Yes It's been 3 1/2 on xtandi. But my PSA is starting to rise. I just had a biopsy to check for DNA analysis. This will determine the next course of action.

[Kevinski65 in reply to Magnus1964]

Was the mystery drug prostvac?

[Magnus1964 in reply to Kevinski65]

I just asked my research doctor yesterday and said the drug does not have a name yet.

[Hidden in reply to Magnus1964]

Thank you for the information please let me know when you find out about the mysterious drug we are all in this together

[Magnus1964 in reply to Hidden]

I will post it on the site for all. I have had several queries on this.

[timotur]

I saw in your profile you had RP in '06 and 2x reoccurrences with LN mets, since then treated by radiation and Z/P. After stopping Z/P, hopefully your PSA, stays low, which would indicate the treatment knocked out the LN mets, and there are no other ones. I've read T-levels come back slowly, taking as long as a year, but eventually gets back to normal, so that's something to look forward to.

[Hidden in reply to timotur]

Thank you. that is the most encouraging info I have had. My fear is that once I stop ZP next April, is the unknown ,

[Magnus1964 in reply to Hidden]

Why have you or your doctor set a date to stop zytiga? If it's still working in April why stop?

[Hidden in reply to timotur]

sounds like a plan

[Tall_Allen]

Please explain. Are you taking Zytiga adjuvant to radiation therapy, or because such therapy has failed? If the former, the hope is that the radiation with the hormone therapy has cured you.

[Hidden in reply to Tall_Allen]

My cancer came back last year in the form of matastized lymph nodes. I then had radiation (second time) for 5 weeks and put on ZP for two years which ends next April. Some folks here ask why stop it, others say wait and see. It’s all such an illusion situation.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Hidden]

You are getting diverse responses because your explanation confused many of us. ZP is usually given as part of lifelong hormone therapy for men whose cancer has metastasized beyond the pelvic lymph nodes. At that point, the cancer is incurable (by current methods), and the goal is to maintain survival as long as possible. In that case, you would not stop taking it until it stopped working.

Apparently, you were using it differently. You used it as part of your salvage radiation therapy. Such use is not standard-of-care. You were taking it in the hope that it would help your salvage radiation work better (called "adjuvant" treatment) and perhaps cure your cancer entirely. Used this way, there is no point in taking ZP for more than 2 years - by then, it either cured you or it didn't.

[Hidden in reply to Tall_Allen]

My MO has me taking ZP for the two years in the hopes that it will cure the cancer

Guess I’ll have to wait and see what happens

[TommyTV]

I’ve been taking Zytiga for nearly 8 years, it’s kept my Stage 4 cancer static. PSA at dx was 571, currently immeasurable. Why stop. Is it cost based? What’s your life worth?

[Magnus1964 in reply to TommyTV]

On zytiga for 8 years!!!!!! You are the champion!!! Congratulations.

[Apollo123 in reply to TommyTV]

Wow still working at 8 years!! That’s amazing news. 👍

[Kevinski65]

I am taking lupron and xtandi. I've been at NIH. I signed up for xtandi and prostvac. Prostvac was found to be a dud with xtandi. I continue to get xtandi at NIH. I get lupron at home. I'm 9 years out. PSA is .02. Side effects are lousy but I'm 67. The no labido is a bummer but at 67 I don't seem to care much. The 3 bone Mets I had are asleep, or gone or dormant. I get a different answer every time I press them for an explanation. I had a few suspicious lymph nodes. They're now normal. Boring is better than other alternatives. NIH pays for the flight, some of the hotel and meals. I go every 6 weeks. It's become such a routine now. The only excitement I get is when I go into their' lecture hall and hear their' scientists blab about cancer. Sometimes there's a concert in the atrium. Every now and then you might meet someone to talk to. Someday it will fall apart. They told me to enjoy the ride for now. NIH offered me degarilix but it's a different drug. Lupron is covered by Medicare so why change? Xtandi , on the other hand, is more than I can afford on my own.