Please help - what should we expect? Fast rising PSA, Bone and lymph node mets, gleason 10!

[DefeatCancer]

Husband had RP 2 years ago, then radiation. He is 67 years old and in June '19 his psa - .3, Nov '19 - .7, Dec '19- 2.1 and Feb '20 - 9.8. He went to mayo clinic and he has spine, sternum and distant lymph nodes mets. He has very aggressive cancer, it all happened so fast! His gleason is 10 and all his core biopsys were positive. They wont even give us a hint of what we should expect life expectancy wise. He starts chemo in the next couple of weeks and has just gotten his fist hormone shot. Any one have any clue what we should expect? best/worse case? 1 year? 5 years? Thanks.

[Tall_Allen]

Did they biopsy any of his metastases?

[DefeatCancer in reply to Tall_Allen]

I don't believe so, I know when they removed his prostate, all the cores were positive with gleason 10.

[Tall_Allen in reply to DefeatCancer]

There are some options possible that may show up in a biopsy.

[DefeatCancer in reply to Tall_Allen]

What would that be? He is going to go on chemo hopefully starting next week,

[Tall_Allen in reply to DefeatCancer]

For hormone-sensitive PC, Zytiga, Erleada or Xtandi would all be good choices after chemo.

[DefeatCancer in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks for the info to look into! Do you have any idea his prognosis? is it crazy for us to think he will make it 5 years and beyond?

[Tall_Allen in reply to DefeatCancer]

I have no idea. Todd Seals has survived over 20 years so far with this diagnosis.

On the other hand, my good friend died about 4 months after metastases were found.

I suggest you focus your energies around what you know today. As of today, he is alive and well, and requires treatment. I found that psychotherapy and mindfulness worked for me. Perhaps that will help stop the ruminative thinking that is torturing you.

[bluepacifica in reply to DefeatCancer]

Read my profile, please, for my husband's experience. It just might give you some hope.

[noahware]

The survival time of any given man can be very different than the statistical average survival of many men, even if as a group they all have similar disease appearance at diagnosis/recurrence. You can't go by the statistics... and you shouldn't, because they can APPEAR more depressing than they really are!

Looking at how many "typical" men respond to various treatments, and for how long, could easily lead to a more pessimistic view. But even if you try to be optimistic, you have to be realistic. The very BEST case scenario is a complete durable remission, but that is relatively rare with more advanced/aggressive cancers.

Yet it is realistic to think that if you fight an aggressive cancer aggressively, and you are not extremely elderly or afflicted with other diseases, you could survive many years past "expected survival."

The best approach, which is easier said than done, is to take every single day as a gift. Sometimes I ask myself, what did I do to deserve to make it THIS far (to nearly sixty) compared to so many people who lose their lives at far younger ages?

The blessing of having at least made it to late-middle-age is an unearned gift, so I have to cultivate some gratitude for that, even if the future looks scary and uncertain. (And even BEFORE cancer, our futures were never really all that certain, anyway, were they?)

As Allen says, some practice of mindfulness can bring perspective. You can only control what you can control. What is beyond your control (1 yr, 5 yr, 15 yr?) has to be accepted as such, with the realization of course that accepting it doesn't necessarily mean LIKING it.

[Rocketman1960]

Remember, your husband is not a statistic. Whatever the odds, he will beat them. Hopefully the ADT will knock down the PSA and buy time for other treatment options. One day at a time.

[j-o-h-n]

DefeatCancer..... don't let cancer defeat you.... Forget the 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,7 and etc number of years. Your Husband will be around for many many years... Just time the time to enjoy yourselves and be sure you both vote in the 2044 presidential election.....God Bless....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 02/28/2020 6:13 PM EST

[GoBucks]

You didn't know your husband's life expectancy before he was diagnosed and you still don't know. No one does. Fight through treatment together and enjoy all life has to offer. Like many others here we all know a little more how precious each day can be. Might as well have some fun.

[DefeatCancer]

Its just so hard not knowing anything. Id just like to know if its something where he would easily still be here in 2 years, if its possible 5 years? He just seems to have this crazy aggressive cancer. He has a doubling psa time of less than a month and its so scary. Anyone else have such a fast doubling time??

[Hidden]

Bingo, I do. Just got a new reading today.....5.65, up from 2.25 and one before that was 1.18. All given one month apart. The good news is my bone scans show no progression and I feel good. Based on that I am continuing on trial provided Xtandi. End of March will be two years since my diagnosis and I am 66 yo.

The same doubling of psa happened to me beginning with my 4th infusion of Docetaxel last year. Quickly went to 10+ then I started trial of Xtandi and 10 cycles of Cabazitaxel. Completed the Chemo and it is most likely what has halted the progression of the tumors. The trial specifies bone scan progression so MO does not seem greatly concerned as long as I feel good and have no progression via the scans which I just had on Monday. Looking at Radium 233 or trial.

[Rubyrose1234]

Like many wives who's husbands have advanced PC, I too spend many sleepless nights and anxiety distracted days calculating PSA doubling times, worrying about time left, time running out..... and on it goes. (I think being an RN working in Oncology for 30 years has not helped my over thinking habits). My husband Allan, who is often thankful, seldom morose and mostly positive, jokes that he does not need to worry about the future as I do all the worrying for him. As Tall Allen mentioned, mindfulness and other various psychological therapies e.g. acceptance and commitment therapy is extremely helpful. The practice of quieting the mind and just thinking breath to breath has been extremely helpful to both me and my husband along with regular visits to a psychologist. So give it a bash, you have noting to lose.

[Loves2golf in reply to Rubyrose1234]

OMG rubyrose. You could have posted my exact post. My husband has a positive attitude and sleeps like a baby. Menwhile, I sleep only a few hours a night researching anything I can find that might help him.