Here is some Hope for you

[Chugach]

I’m 4 1/2 years post diagnosis at Stage 4. Starting in i was told this would kill me and my life would be significantly shorter. I was diagnosed at 46, I couldn’t allow the that. Some may call it denial, but I stayed positive I keep a sense of hope. I stepped it up and pushed hard to be strong and healthy and control what I could. It was a tough few years: Lupron for years now, over a month of radiation, tough round of chemo, then more radiation; then Zytiga, then a clinical trial then Xtandi, then more radiation, then Taxotere - no doubt it was brutal and wearing on me. When my PSA started rising on Taxotere I admit I was losing hope. But I kept pushing looking into lu177, immunotherapy and other options. I was slim on options and booking flights for PSMA scans and trips to Germany, when I found I was MSI-H and eligible for Keytruda.

My PSA went from 86 to undetectable after 2 cycles. It’s been several months and I just got infusion #8 and my PSA remains undetectable. All bone pain has disappeared and I feel pretty much normal again. I’m hoping to drop off Lupron in another few months and keep hammering this PC until it is GONE!

I went from getting my affairs in order to having this dragon on the rails. I’m going to beat this.

Immunotherapy is going to solve this and it just makes intuitive sense to work with your immune system.

Stay Strong Brothers - there is Hope, keep the spirit and fight!!

[Grumpyswife]

Good for you. I had to look up MSI-H to know it is microsatellite instability. I had asked my husband's doctor about Keytruda the other day and was told he has to have microsatellite instability to be approved for it--which he doesn't. At least it didn't show up on the two tissue sample tests he had.

I think the constantly funny John on here has had very good luck with Keytruda. Hope it continues for you both.

[Chugach in reply to Grumpyswife]

Thanks - there is a clinical trial that is exploring LU-177 and Keytruda, eventually science will solve this. Hopefully sooner than later

[Zetabow]

I'm glad for you.

Initially my combined ADT and Chemo got my PSA 1386 down to almost undetectable of 0.028 and it lasted almost a year to Jan where it went to .78 and start of April it's up to 7.9. Starting Xofigo treatment tomorrow, my pain never let up and taking insane amounts of Opioids and still in pain, the Doctors hope the Xofigo will reduce the pain for me, keeping my fingers crossed.

[Magnus1964]

I was diagnosed at age 46 also. Been around for 27 years. Keep up the good fight.

[gvweller]

My experience was very similar to yours, except it was over about ten years. MSI high, three courses of Keytruda pretty much cured me. That was over two years ago. We stopped ADT and testosterone has very slowly started coming back. Take courage guys, there is hope!

[Chugach in reply to gvweller]

Wonderful- how long did were you on Keytruda before you stopped ADT?

[j-o-h-n]

A job well done..... As I've posted many many times.... I'm on Keytruda for my lung melanoma and it's working. Keep on Keeping on....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 04/30/2020 6:06 PM DST

[gvweller]

I think we stopped ADT as soon as we were sure the cancer was gone, which was after 3 courses of Keytruda. There were only 3 courses - we stopped because I was having bad headaches which Drs thought might be bad immune reaction to Keytruda, As 8 days of IV antibiotics cured it, it was more likely a bad sinus infection. Anyway, we stopped Keytruda after 3 courses - still the cancer was gone and has stayed gone. It was pretty easy to biopsy and monitor because it had turned into a soft-tissue cancer - I had subcutaneous tumors which were biopsied, and which vanished after Keytruda.

[Chugach in reply to gvweller]

That is amazing- thanks for sharing

[TheTopBanana]

Wonderful!! Did you have extensive mets to begin with?

[Chugach in reply to TheTopBanana]

I had about 7 mets to the bones.