Docetaxal treatment #2 upcoming.

[Costarica1961]

Well one down 5 more treatments to go, number 2 on the 13th. My white blood count is currently at one it's down from pre chemo numbers, to be expected according to my m.o, I requested neulasta on the next go around. Hair coming out in clumps despite cooling cap oh well who loves us baby. Kojak reference for those of you under 50, although side effect have been minimal, my taste has changed as well as day 3 and 4 body aches and a bit of neuropathic discomfort all in all tolerable. I have recently read a mayo clinic article in regards to, some cases of chemo treatments can sometimes make the cancer more aggressive due to a protein of a healthy cell becoming cancerous and resisting treatment. My question is how prevalent is this, and those of you that have gone through this treatment what were the outcome of killing your Mets and for how long, or what were your next options after chemo. I have 4 new Mets after xtandi failed followed by a rapid PSA rise, although still under 4 at least a month ago before starting chemo. Gleason 9 rad prostectomy June 2016 37 session of rad and zytiga bliss 17 months to a short run of xtandi and now the chemo docetaxal road. With zometa and lupron. Any thoughts or feedback welcome, thankyou in advance... happy mothers day.

[tom67inMA]

I've not heard of chemo making the cancer more aggressive. Not saying it can't happen, but if it did happen frequently then trials wouldn't be showing a survival advantage.

My cancer has been aggressive since the beginning. No gradual PSA climbs for me. Instead, it's just *BAM* and I have metastatic cancer, this time with an undetectable PSA. Today should be cycle 5 (blood counts willing) of my second dance with chemo, and if I ignore the obvious side effects there is definite improvement in my symptoms.

In short, for most but not all men, chemo of any form is preferable to uncontrolled cancer.

[Costarica1961 in reply to tom67inMA]

Thankyou I needed a little perspective. I guess I'm a rookie with chemo compared to you. Thankyou.

[tom67inMA in reply to Costarica1961]

For what it's worth, I never wanted to know half of what I've learned about chemo

[Costarica1961 in reply to tom67inMA]

I hear you, sometimes its better to ride the wave without knowing the shark population.

[Tall_Allen]

Obviously not a major concern, since we know it extends life.

[Costarica1961 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Good to hear thankyou!

[Maleko808]

Yep. You are experiencing just about all that I experienced. Neulasta caused aches for a couple of days but taking Claritin helped. I have not seen any information on chemo energizing cancer. Rounds 3-4 seemed to be worse for fatigue. Hopefully you get great results. Mine lasted 8 months but then again I'm Gleason 10. Good luck with your treatments.

[monte1111 in reply to Maleko808]

Thanks for reminding me. My old bones were really aching lately. Seem to be getting better, but I'll pop that last Claritin. Might just cut down on my sneezing too.

[Costarica1961]

8 mos I will take it thankyou

[Hidden]

Cancer treatments create a natural selection process for the cancer. It's survival of the fittest, every cancer cell for itself.

The cells that have a survival advantage are the ones that reproduce. So in that sense, treating cancer does creates more aggressive cancer cells. But we still need to kill as many as we can in the meantime and slow them down so we can live longer.

[Costarica1961 in reply to Hidden]

Amen to that!

[Fairwind]

I switched from Doce to Jevtana and got better results with far fewer side-effects..

At this point in our lives, at this point in our treatment, we don't need to be doing things that offers little improvement and makes us feel worse than we already do...

[Costarica1961 in reply to Fairwind]

I agree with that, I will look into jevtana. Now I am curious

[Hidden in reply to Fairwind]

I had a similar experience. 6 sessions of Docetaxel was barely tolerable towards the final two. Really knocked me for a loop. Ten sessions of Jevtana were easily tolerated and I remained active.

[Costarica1961 in reply to Hidden]

How long after docetaxal did you do jevtana . And did you have visable on pet scan Mets with a rising PSA and castrate resistant PC just curious because if all things being relatively equal I like to know my plan B strategy, thankyou very much for your share.

[Hidden in reply to Costarica1961]

It was just under two months. 20 plus visible Mets and a rapidly rising psa. From negligible to 10 in a few months. Moving to Radium 223 on May 20th. PSA was recently 18.56. For me, my treatments seem to drive down PSA at first and then after a some months it starts increasing and then rapidly so. Other than that I am doing pretty darn well!

[Costarica1961 in reply to Hidden]

We are truly warriors against the disease. Thankyou

[EdBar]

24 hour Claritin, normally used for allergies will help ward off the bone pain experienced from Neulasta. It’s a little trick the nurses told me about when I was getting chemo, you might want to inquire about it. The bone aches can be pretty uncomfortable as the Neulasta puts your marrow into overdrive.

Ed

[Costarica1961 in reply to EdBar]

Yes I took it for 5 days after the first round and will continue . Thankyou

[j-o-h-n]

13th is tomorrow.... Well Costa kill those little M.F. (and I don't mean Mighty Fine) bastards with your second round. (save those clumps of hair for me)...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 05/12/2020 7:38 PM DST

[monte1111 in reply to j-o-h-n]

I think Costa needs to sell those clumps of hair. When he sees the bill he will no longer be Rica.

[j-o-h-n in reply to monte1111]

2 funny..... Ana thought so too....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 05/12/2020 9:42 PM DST

[monte1111 in reply to j-o-h-n]

oops, I forgot to ask you where you were going to paste those clumps of hair.

[j-o-h-n in reply to monte1111]

on my Pet Gorilla.............

One time I had to buy a triangular piece of red hair so I went to a wig maker.

He asked me why a triangular piece of red hair?

I told him it was for my girlfriend.

So he went in the back of the store and came out with a triangular piece of red hair.

He said that would be $200,00 and asked me if I wanted him to wrap it up for me?

I said no thanks, I'll eat it here.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 05/12/2020 10:04 PM DST

[monte1111 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Only take out is allowed. Be sure you have a hair brush.

[j-o-h-n in reply to monte1111]

"Take out" two words I never liked..... and I think you meant tooth brush..........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 05/12/2020 10:37 PM DST

[monte1111 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Ok. Tooth brush is way too funny. Time for my pills and my Healthy Choice Shiitake Chicken Bowl. No jokes needed.

[j-o-h-n in reply to monte1111]

Try these from Costco.....(really good)

costco.com/the-snak-yard-sh...

Good Night........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 05/12/2020 10:58 PM DST

[Costarica1961 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Humor is the best medicine of all.

[j-o-h-n in reply to Costarica1961]

Yep, humor is.......... hopefully you're doing ok today (number 2, four more to go)....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 05/13/2020 12:55 PM DST

[monte1111]

Be sure to tell MO about any neuropathy! My foot neuropathy came full force after chemo. Very annoying. I had 8 rounds taxotere. I could have done 10. I could have been a contender. I would suggest sticking with your doctor's plan. Save Jevanta for later. Don't change a chemo in midstream. But I'm just a typing head. Best of wishes.

[Costarica1961 in reply to monte1111]

Oh no not considering changing, just looking for plan b and future possibilities. Thankyou

[tallguy2]

I have been down your path, brother. During chemo it's time to buzz the head and been done with it. Water will taste terrible. For taste try those sugar-free water drinks like Ice or the Costco brand. Keep drinking fluids. And please exercise as you are able.

[Costarica1961 in reply to tallguy2]

Thankyou check, check and check.

[Doseydoe]

Hi Costa, I finished my final Dosetaxal session this morning, and rang the bell🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔 hurray!!! You can do this brother, be patient and you'll get through this. Regards 😎DD

[Costarica1961 in reply to Doseydoe]

Bell ringing is a beautiful thing good for you.