No real news here, just an update... Yesterday was chemo infusion 5 of 6. Now the "aftermath," as we refer to it. Hubby is tolerating chemo pretty well--the second round was rough (considerable nausea) but at the third round the Doc added Emend which has helped a lot. Hubby is also learning how to eat to try to keep things more settled: very small meals, mostly white rice, skinless chicken breasts, good whole grain bread with a little butter, etc. He gets pretty hungry but it helps him to have a not-very full stomach until after the worst of it (usually days 3-7 after infusion).
PSA came down slightly between infusion 3 & 4 but is back up to near 300 (rising steadily for a year). ALP is better news: it has been trending down since infusion #3 and is at 170 from a high of 265 (the lowest it's been since June). Doc recommends staying the course on Docetaxel as ALP seems to indicate some progress. Hubby feels pretty good once he's through the first week after infusion. Pain is still manageable but never diminishes, only increases.
Scans are a bit problematic since he changed providers last year and no one seems to be able to retrieve the scans from the other hospital to compare with recent ones. It's frustrating--weren't we sold the idea of electronic medical records so this sort of thing didn't happen? But what we got instead are incompatible, proprietary systems that make it very hard to transfer information. Hopefully someone will eventually push a magic button and we can get someone to compare scans and see what's been happening (tho we have a pretty good idea already).
We're not really looking too far into the future at this point. Hubby progressed on both Zytiga and Xtandi so there aren't any more options for hormone blockade. We are looking forward to the end of chemo, a few weeks to recover & get some energy back, and planning the spring garden. After 4 1/2 years we both know that all this time is pure gravy.
It will be a quiet Christmas, of course--no family and no friends, just us. There are days I confess I wish it were all over but then I remember that HEY! We only get ONE SHOT at this life! Take the good with the bad, one day at a time, and always, always count our blessings.
Blessing to all of you, and may your winter holidays be peaceful. Soon the light begins its return 🌟
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WildRose6
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Good luck handling chemo, It + xtandi worked for me. I am way past expiration date first given me with my prostatectomy done followed by horrible pathology results. Life is good and at 3 1/2 years I am planning on several more. Looking at what to plant next year in garden and really enjoying various winter squash and canned fruit from this years garden..
So frustrating on his imaging. The comparison is so important. Could you hand carry the records from one provider to the other? Or overnight? Be firm and insistent and don’t take no for an answer. You deserve to be treated fairly.
Thank you Schwah... but we have been informed that the hospital will not release the scans to us, only to another provider. It doesn't seem right but it takes so much energy to fight for these things. I'll give it another go, thank you for the encouragement!
One thing all the members here have taught each other is to take control of your own situation. You are one of hundreds with these doctors but your husband is one of one with you. Do not accept no for an answer. I would reach out to them and tell them to fed ex hos imaging overnight it to your doctor Monday. Then follow up and get the tracking #. Tell them they can charge you the fed ex cost. Stay on the line until you get them to agree and then confirm with the fed ex # . Private message me if you like and I’ll be glad to help. You need to tell whomever you talk to at the dr office that it’s a matter of life and death which it is. Then when you confirm with the fed ex tracking that it’s arrived , call the new dr to confirm receipt and ask when they can compare the imaging. Sorry it has to be like that but it is. The good part is it helps make you feel like you are doing something useful in the fight. Let us know how it goes.
My oncologist releases my scans right away so I can see them before the appointment, he knows and encourages research. I would go to the administrator and threaten to get a kawyer and sue, maybe that would do it.i have copies of all of ghem, blood work, psa tests and cholesterol results from years ago. I told my family doctor about taking CQ10 while on statins , he wanted the paper now he tells people to take it.
This was over 12 years ago, there should be the same answer if you Google the vitamin and statins, no longer have the paper and no idea whret the site is.
Hang in there Rose, things will get better. The chemo will do its job and it sounds like your hubby is doing his. Likewise, you are doing your job as my wife did with me. We ended up having 9 docetaxel shots. In a way, it was easy for me as I was enduring the treatment, but my bride told me she felt kinda helpless and had to just watch me suffer. Which was really hard on her as she just wanted to make me better and couldn't. When we finished the chemo things got better and Iam sure they will for you too. You've both got this, 🤗 DD.
"Combination of the natural product capsaicin and docetaxel synergistically kills human prostate cancer cells through the metabolic regulator AMP-activated kinase | Cancer Cell International | Full Text" cancerci.biomedcentral.com/...
Just something I read about. I myself takes two times 2000 mg cayenne pepper with tomato use everyday.
I take it in capsule form. Four capsules in the morning, four in the evening.
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Adding docetaxel for BCR CSPC at 3-mo doubling rate
Update 3: End of Chemotherapy - Docetaxel
Docetaxel only partially successful
