hello all. My dad is 83 dx in 2017. He has extensive bone Mets. He has been on zytiga, xtandi, still doing zometa and is currently in 3rd treatment of xofigo. He is slowing and weakening a lot. Pain is increasing mainly in hip. If you could see him, though, you'd never guess he's 83! His psa went from 31 in 1/20 to 120 in 2/20. He saw the oncologist yesterday. He was to begin docetaxel after xofigo, but oncologist yesterday says he highly advises against it. He is set for mri in May to look at his spine. Sometimes his neck just gives and his head falls forward now (he said its happened a couple of times). He is still walking but not far and then must rest.
I can see in the notes from his visit that the doctor referred him to palliative/hospice nurse with appointment 4/27. I am in Florida and my parents in Ohio. My mom has dementia and my dad and mom have been down here very frequently in the last three years helping me and my three children fight a divorce/domestic violence battle. Divorce is finally final. My dad is incredible; there is not a better man on this earth. My heart is breaking for him. This brings me to my question:
Is there anyone over 80 here with positive docetaxel experience? Other options you can think of that might help him we can try. Health wise he's in great shape apart from the cancer. I told him I believe he will fight and win for as long as he wants to fight, but that I will respect when he decides he does not want to fight anymore. He became dad to my three children since my ex-husband has effectively abandoned them, not doing anything the court has ordered to see them in over 3 years. I'm just hoping there's still hope. I'm praying every night and trusting God, but I don't want him to suffer.
Lora
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missh2
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Docetaxel use doesn't depend on age - it is underutilized in older men - but it does depend on his blood work. If there is extensive cancer in his bone marrow, his red cells, white cells, and platelets may already be suppressed. It also depends on his liver and kidney function. His oncologist has to assess his performance status before deciding if it is worth the risk.
As always, Allen. You are right on time with useful and helpful knowledge. A thousand thanks! I will pass along to my dad. His latest blood work is not yet in his chart, just drawn yesterday, but the last time it was drawn ranges were normal from what I recall as to all areas you mention including liver and kidney function.
Your father has the best thing he needs you God bless you and your dad I’m on docetaxel (7 of 10 infusions first round) it causes great fatigue mainly (i’m 63) his doctors will decide if it is possible given his bloodwork and then there will be some discussion of what your dad wants given the data and what your dad wants he will be monitored closely (bloodwork & side effects) there will be discussions regarding how the regimen can be adjusted—higher dose less often/lower dose more often, when to take a break if needed etc i hope this helps i wish the best for you all
Quite a challenge! I am undergoing radiation for Hip pain And there’s reason to believe there is tumor involvement somewhere in my spine causing a great deal of discomfort. Be sure your dad has a great MO and a check for compression on the nerves in the spine.. Best wishes and prayers🙏🏻
What is the specific reason why the oncologist advises against chemotherapy?
In my opinion, it shouldn't be something subjective like "He's too old". We sure don't get too old to be in pain.
But if it's something like: "This blood count is too low", etc. then that's legitimate.
I have experience with Doctetaxel and I found it quite tolerable as do most. He also has the possibility of having a lower dose and weekly infusions if the side effects are too difficult. These are some things he could discuss with his doctor and he could also get a second opinion.
I don't think anyone here had a positive experience with docetaxel. But there are guys on this site who had milder side effects than others. I personally had a rough go of it. But with your help, your Dad could very well handle it. Care givers and family support is huge. Also was spot radiation ever considered for his pain? It's what helped me.
Chemo sucked, however, I had a very positive experience with six months of chemotherapy. The most important aspect of chemotherapy in my opinion is a positive attitude while you kill the little bastards. I definite would do it all over again if necessary.
GD
• in reply to
When chemo ended, I did miss killing those little bastards. The thought of that always made the suffering more tolerable.
New here and have found this site very informative!
Quick reply for you because my father is 86 w/ bony mets that came up very rapidly end of 2019 after 15 years of managing prostate cancer w/ hormone treatment. He started Docetaxel chemo in January and is now on his 5th cycle of infusions. Seems to be tolerating okay, but he is weak and appetite is bad. However, PSA down from 206 in Jan (had been doubling every month before that) to stable around 130.
Age alone should not be a reason not to try. From everything I've learned in past few months, stopping the spread to the bones is the most important goal. In fact, just after his 1st Docetaxel my dad broke his hip (not from a fall, just bone deterioration) and had to have an emergency hip replacement, recovering from that just in time for 2nd Docetaxel. Doctors indicated this type of thing would continue if we didn't try the chemo every 3 weeks to stop the spread.
So far, seems to be working. I would also ask about Denosumab or similar antiresorptive therapy along with the chemo - we learned about it way too late and I think would have been helpful to start much earlier.
Hope that helps and best wishes for your dad's treatment.
My elderly husband is also being discouraged from having chemo. His bloodwork isn’t as good as your Dad’s and Xtandi, Zytiga etc. have taken a toll on him.
They seem to be discouraging because he has Parkinsons Disease and they know we enjoy traveling. They think chemo would take away our lifestyle. Doing nothing will take away his life but I know he is tired of treatments.
😢. So sorry to hear about dad. Keep him comfortable there’s no such thing a addiction at this point. My dad has dementia as well as cancer just wants to sleep. It’s hard to watch 🙏🙏🙏🙏
I am also 83 and also doing Xofigo (injection 4th on 27/4) and feel good. However, as I think outside the box, I have always tried different things (with some successes) in my 24 years of illness. For example, I lived a wonderful 17 years on "Wait and See" with Megadose of VitaminC/Amino Acids and in the last 7 years that the disease got worse, I came to "cure" myself with Cannabis Oil, while I had someone who provided me with the real RSO. Now I'am doing Fenbendazole (see: mycancerstory.rocks and Fenbendazole.org) and here are the results for the last 8 weeks on Fenbendazole:
1) Before Xofigo PSA=128; 2) After 1st.Xofigo injection PSA=254; 3) After 2nd. Xofigo and Febendazole PSA=246 and 4) After 3rd. Xofigo and Febendazole PSA=190 - 4 weeks periods.
My expectation is that PSA will continue to fall as I have not been on Hormone Therapy for the last 18 months and Xofigo does not lower the PSA. Therefore the improvement of results come from Fenbendazole. I believe that the next Xofigo injection will be the last, since my Oncologist views this experience with simpathy and I sugest everyone to give a try to Fenbendazole.
As for Alzheimer's allow me to suggest a Google search for "Coconut Oil for Alzheimer's.
I am living in Portugal but when my Urologist wanted to submit me to RP I was living in Brazil and for that I have been able to resist to the most stupid thing doctors want us to accept. So I have been able to test several things and enjoy an excelent sexual life for another 17+ years.
I am 82 and ECOG status 1. Doctaxel brought my PSA down from 17 to 2 in one year. In prostate cancer the dosage of docetaxel is less than for other cancers. I did have a couple of fatigue days after each cycle (cycles are 3 weeks apart).
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