Casodex: Saw my Oncologist on the 1st... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Casodex

Zetabow profile image
18 Replies

Saw my Oncologist on the 1st Nov, PSA has been 0.28 since I finished Chemo in May (originally 1386). I'm on Diphereline (ADT) for 12 months now and he just started giving me Casodex.

I just wondered why he did this if everything is stable, any ideas?

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Zetabow profile image
Zetabow
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18 Replies
Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen

The cancer is still there and must be treated systemically. You had a good response to chemo, so the thinking is that another strong systemic therapy can help lower the cancer load still further. Scans only show mets that are big enough to see. PSA is only a biomarker - it is correlated with the cancer load, but doesn't really tell you about the cancer that is not yet putting out PSA.

The recent ENZAMET trial showed that for first-line therapy, enzalutamide +ADT was superior to casodex+ADT, so you might want to ask your doctor for some stronger stuff than casodex. In the US, enzalutamide is not yet approved for this purpose, but it may be different in Australia. Now you are taking it as a second-line therapy while you are still hormone sensitive, which is a little different, but it's probably true as well.

Zetabow profile image
Zetabow in reply toTall_Allen

Thanks

I'm in Estonia (EU) and not Auz, wish I was though, it's much warmer lol

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toZetabow

I wish I were in Australia too, although the temperature in LA got up to 33°C yesterday.

monte1111 profile image
monte1111 in reply toTall_Allen

That's 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit for those of you who were to lazy to google it.

Zetabow profile image
Zetabow

Thanks

On my meeting 1st Nov the Oncologist also mentioned surgery, not a full Orchiectomy but just to cut the lines to prevent production of Testosterone. Hospital called me yesterday and wants to do surgery on 21st, wow that was fast.

With Gleason 9, PSA 1386 and Mets to every bone, including getting into the Marrow in Femurs and causing some neurological damage and pain, I guess they're trying to cover all bases.

I just thought nothing more would be done until they saw the PSA start to rise.

Zetabow profile image
Zetabow

He's a young guy, seems smart and enthusiastic. I told him I trust his judgement.

I know they also review my case on a panel of Doctors and anything done to me is probably first suggested and agreed as a course of action by this panel.

VictoryPC profile image
VictoryPC

Casodex is my life saver intermittently along with PCSPES. I use 50mg for 10 days every other month and it keeps my count stable for 3 years now.

AlmostnoHope profile image
AlmostnoHope

How much is he giving you . The reason I ask is if it's 150mg. it's too much and tolerance develops quickly.

Zetabow profile image
Zetabow in reply toAlmostnoHope

1 x 50mg tablet a day

VictoryPC profile image
VictoryPC in reply toZetabow

Glad to hear. Taking too much is a mistake.

Zetabow profile image
Zetabow in reply toVictoryPC

I am still having Diphereline injection every 3 months, next one due Thursday

Sxrxrnr1 profile image
Sxrxrnr1

And their bank balances are in finer condition. With Medicare part D, your yearly fee for Casodex could be zero, with Xtandi and other such 2nd generation AR inhibitors, could be 14,000 annually. If no insurance and not qualifying for subsidies the sky could be the limit.

Casodex monotherapy worked extremely well for myself after failing ADT, chemo and Xtandi. Who knew?

Zetabow profile image
Zetabow in reply toSxrxrnr1

I live in Europe, I'm not at the mercy of private insurance companies. The hospital facilities and Doctors are very good. The only bad thing I see is because it's such a small country (1.3m population) no medial trials are available.

monte1111 profile image
monte1111 in reply toZetabow

Hi. I googled that 1.3m population. Thought it was a typo. Also has 2,222 islands! Amazing! Hope things go well for you.

donits profile image
donits

Hi Zetabov

In Estonia (Tartu university) is clinical trial: Atorvastatin/placebo+hormone therapy.

Zetabow profile image
Zetabow in reply todonits

Thanks for the info. I'm friends with Olav Tammik head surgical oncologist at Tartu University hospital. When they start telling me I'm out of options I plan to call him.

I called him when I was first diagnosed so he is well aware of my situation.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

Buy a bra..............

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 11/12/2019 7:14 PM EST

MMK-XFuture profile image
MMK-XFuture

Was on Casodex for nearly 2 years after double orchiectomy (miss those guys much), Casodex worked well, PSA went down to 0.04 until I became resistant, then PSA crept up to 25, then to 100 in 5 months. Had radiation due to metastasis on the spine. Now on Xgeva monthly and Xytiga and Prednisone daily. Have yet to check my PSA. Good luck to you!

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