First Lutetium 177 therapy (PRLT)

[dvcarola2]

Hi, I just wanted to share with you all that my husband just finished his first Lu177 therapy and so far he is tolerating it well. We are staying here in St Luke’s Medical Center which is the only hospital here in the Philippines offering this kind of treatment. Lutetium comes from Germany and our doctor has been trained there as well.

He was given 7.7 Gbq inside our isolation room and also a shot of furosemide 20mg after infusion to help with the urine flow. He was asked to drink 3L or more of water/liquids after infusion to make sure he is well hydrated. I am staying with him in the room the whole time but need to be more than 1 meter away from him to avoid radiation as advised by our doctor. We spent about US$9,000 for the first infusion which includes 3day hospital stay at the isolation room, post therapy scan, hospital fee and dr fee. 2nd session will be done after 8wks/2months. Pet PSMA scan will be done after the 2nd session to see whether it is working for him or not. I am hoping and praying that this new treatment protocol will work for him and relieve him of his pains. Current PSA is at 2.2 so hopefully this will go down in succeeding wks as well as eradicate or decrease mets in several lymphnodes and bones.

Thankful for all the information/feedback ive gathered here on this site which helped us in deciding and preparing for this protocol. And a special thank you to the loving wife of DarkEnergy/George (Jhaz) for treating me to some ice cold beer and cooked super delicious spicy chicken curry for us 😊

Anyway, I will keep you posted in the succeeding sessions if it is working for him or not. I wish everyone success in their fight against PCa and to stay positive no matter how hard it gets!

Happy 4th of July to our wonderful brothers/sisters from the US of A 🇺🇸

[jdm3]

Thanks for keeping us posted. Wishing you both all the best throughout the treatment and beyond... and happy 4th of July 🇺🇸

[dvcarola2 in reply to jdm3]

Thank you and wishing you the best in your treatments as well!

[Grumpyswife]

Sending my hope and prayers for success with the treatments. You are brave to travel for treatment and stay safe.

Mary

[dvcarola2 in reply to Grumpyswife]

Thank you Mary! We didnt need to travel since we are already from here (Phils). Just thankful that Lu177 is being offered here. All the best to you and your husband John as well!

[Grumpyswife in reply to dvcarola2]

Living there makes it so much easier.

[Peterd110]

Keep us updated Vicki! Praying it knocks that PCA way back!!!! ❤️

[dvcarola2 in reply to Peterd110]

Thanks Laura! We are now home and Dondee went to the pool already. I dont know if thats ok but thats the only exercise he can tolerate well without having pains. All the best to you and Peter!

[Doseydoe]

Sending you both my thoughts and prayers 🙏 for a successful outcome, 😎DD.

[Hidden]

What a beautiful couple. May God hold you both in these trying times ..🤙🏽🙏

[dvcarola2 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Whimpy-p! Blessed to have found this community!

[immunity1]

Nice to hear from you and trust all will go well. I am having my 6th Lu177 treatment (over 3y) this week too. I will think of you as I hear the Geiger Counter screaming at me! Rob.

[dvcarola2 in reply to immunity1]

Thank you and all the best on your 6th Lu177 treatment Rob! May you continue to respond well.

[Hidden in reply to dvcarola2]

😷👏🏼

[RJ-MN]

Deeply appreciate this update; thank you for writing so well. Blessings on this treatment, your loving relationship, and these days of life!

[dvcarola2 in reply to RJ-MN]

Blessings on your current treatment as well!

[Stenfelt]

Thanks for your posting. I want to share my experience as I did Lu177 recently in Finland at Docrates hospital, though I live in Stockholm but that treatment is not given I Sweden. I did Op 2014 then PSA has slightly increased. After Pet/Ct now in January 2020 it was showing tumors in my Lungs. I got very sad about that and decided to contact Docrates in Finland. They recommended Lu177 2-3 rounds follows up by Docetaxel treatment. I decided to go for that. My PSA is low but was at 0,62 April 16th when time for my first Lu177. At my second Lu177 May 13th it had decreased to 0,45 and at my third June 16th it was 0,17. CT shows that the tumors have decreased a little in size but will probably continue to decrease. Now I am at Docetaxel my first of six treatments. I did not have any Hormon treatment before so it started in June with Leuprorelin. The plan is that I, after chemo is finished I will phase out Leuprorelin and continue wit Bicalutamid. The cost for Lu177 at Docrates is about USD 14.000:- per injection for your comparison and PSMA/Pet about USD 4.000:-

I have had no pain, just a little bit tirednes the days after the Lu177. Hopefully you will get som quick indications from decrease in PSA. Wish you all good luck.

/ Anders

[dvcarola2 in reply to Stenfelt]

Thank you Anders for sharing your experience. I hope that Lu177 followed by Docetaxel will be a great help especially with your lung tumors.

Wow the cost of Lu177 in Docrates is 5k more! The cheapest Pet PSMA here is about USD1600 but could go as much as USD2600 depending on the hospital.

All the best in your treatments!

[j-o-h-n]

Hello Vicki and Dondee, Well you know that you both (and the kids) are in our thoughts. We wish Dondee strength and God's power to see him through his latest "adventure". You know you still have that open invitation with us. Take care and we send you our love. Ana, John and Tripp.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 07/05/2020 1:32 PM DST

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

🙏😷

[dvcarola2 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Thanks John! Yes I have a recording of that invitation somewhere so keeping that in mind, always 😊 I do hope that someday when everything gets better, we will be able to come visit you, Ana and Tripp. Then we will have that double scoop choco chip ice cream 🤩 Take care always and thank you for always bringing positive cheerful vibe to this community!

[Hidden]

Heal up ! 😷✌️

[Bangkok]

I had my Radioligand treatment in Bangkok. After my first treatment, my PSA dropped from 980 to 1.41. 2nd down to 0.41 and 3rd (and final) 0.14. I was in at 11 AM and out at 4 PM each time and 3 days later I was again running 5 K each morning with my wife. I think all the Lutetium177 comes from Germany because the supply chain was breaking down in March and I had to wait an extra 8 days for my 2nd treatment. I'm now cancer-free and in remission. So good luck with your treatments. I'm back in Canada now but we look back fondly of our time in Bangkok.

[dvcarola2 in reply to Bangkok]

Great stories like this brings us hope so thank you for sharing and i hope that it works for my husband too. His dream is to be able to run and bike again.

Its nice to hear that Lu177 is also being offered in Bangkok. I love Bangkok especially Chatuchak and Damnoen Saduak floating market!

All the best to you and may you enjoy many many years in remission 😊

[tennis4life in reply to Bangkok]

I'm having a very difficult time getting to Germany or Australia for treatment. Do you have contact info for the hospital that performed your LU 177 treatment?

Thanks. Paul

[Bangkok in reply to tennis4life]

Samitivej Hospital, 133 Sukumvit 49, Klongtan Nua, Vadhana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. Tel [phone] Fax [phone]. Thailand could well be in lockdown also. At the minimum, you would be required to quarantine upon arrival. Contact your Embassy. Good luck with this.

[tennis4life in reply to Bangkok]

THANKS!!

[monte1111]

Another great picture. So annoying that this kind of thing happens to such young and pretty people. Hoping you will one day say, "We're cancer free."

[dvcarola2 in reply to monte1111]

Yes that will be the day!!! 😊

[tennis4life]

Hi DV, great results! I'm looking for a reliable site to have the LU177 performed. Germany is still on lock-down. Do you have the contact info for Bangkok?

TY.

Paul

[dvcarola2 in reply to tennis4life]

Hi Paul, sorry I dont have contact info for Bangkok. In case you want to inquire for Lu177 treatment here in the Philippines instead, you may contact St Lukes Medical Center. Its one of the top, if not, the top hospital here:

Email: [e-mail] (Nuclear Med)

Tel#: [phone] local 1004 / 1152

Hospital staff responds quickly.

All the best in your search and future treatment!

[tennis4life in reply to dvcarola2]

THANKS!