PSA a cautionary tale

[Dmwalker]

I haven’t contributed much to this board, but I did ask some questions about prostatitis and prostate cancer a while ago. In Mar. of 2020, I saw a slight increase in PSA and my MO ordered a new CT and Bone scan which revealed only minor changes since the last one. No bone mets, and only minor changes in lymph nodes. At the time, my only medication was Lupron at 3 month injections. My MO ordered Xtandi to be added to the treatment. Xtandi dropped my PSA to very low levels, but also with many of the debilitation side effects that the drug causes. With my MO’s permission, I dropped the dosage from 4 to 2 pills a day. The medication continued to be effective – and debilitating. ...In Oct. of 2020 I began to experience severe constipation. I went to my primary care physician, who was concerned enough to order an abdominal scan to see if there was a blockage. No blockage was found, but the radiologist indicated significant spreading of my cancer, including to ribs.

The results were sent to my MO, who downplayed them due to my low PSA. He still felt that my abdominal issues were the result of something else. In Dec., I went to a well-known MO for a second opinion. He concurred and thought that I had some underlying condition such as celiac’s, but cancer wasn’t the problem due to my low PSA.

I was put on restricted diets and antibiotics to make sure I dealt with any bacteriological issues. By mid Jan. I was in intense pain. Yesterday (Jan. 26) I was brought in for another CT and bone scan. The results are “multiple new foci”, including ribs, scapula, spine, “innumerable nodules throughout the lungs” , lymphs, “multiple lesions through both loves of the liver”, etc. etc.

The MO told me that this seems to have changed into small-cell prostate cancer, and that all that can be done now is palliative. My life is to be measure into a few months.

But I still have low PSA!

[Magnus1964]

You might try casodex, it has fewer side effects.

[Mascouche in reply to Magnus1964]

Depends on the dosage and on the individual swallowing the pill. I was relatively fine on Casodex 50mg but on Casodex 150mg I dropped 10lbs in a few weeks, developed shortness of breath and became zombie-like. We're all snowflakes.

[Dmwalker]

Sorry I screwed up this post. Ended up being in 3 parts.

[Mascouche in reply to Dmwalker]

Have you lost the rest of your post or you just haven't had time to edit it?

[Dmwalker in reply to Mascouche]

I think I've got it fixed now.

[Mascouche in reply to Dmwalker]

Thanks

[Hidden]

I have often wondered if the prescribed doses for Xtandi and Zytiga are excessive.

[dadzone43]

Are you going to stick with that MO?

[yehsch]

Hi Dmwalker,

I have been diagnosed by RMI, PIRADS 5 and have high PSA for some 10 years now (60 - 90). I refused having a biopsy because I have a chronic urethritis. My prostate is probably inflamed.

My cancer is stabilized. I live normally.

Do you know that cancer cells can't survive without sugar ?

I decided 10 years ago to try keto diet. Since then my cancer is stabilized.

I never took drugs. And I am a pharmacist!

I eat flax seeds bread. It has antiandrogen effects. I drink soya milk. I eat Brazil nuts to prevent metastasis. I practice sports. It seems to work till now.

It seems it is easily possible to starve cancer, without starving oneself. One has to rely on lipids and proteins for caloric supply.

Does it work in any kind of cancer? I don't know. I'd like to know.

If I was in your situation, I would stop taking any drug and begin a strict keto diet, with as much physical exercise as you can.

Best wishes!

[Mascouche in reply to yehsch]

Hi Yehsch, you might want to have a look at this other post healthunlocked.com/advanced... where we're discussing what feeds prostate cancer. Sugar is food for most cancers but it does not seem to be the case for prostate cancer which feeds on many things. I wasn't keto for the 6-7 months prior to my DX of stage 4 prostate cancer in 2019 but I had been strict keto for the 3 years before that and that didn't stop me from developing advanced prostate cancer. I think WFPB with restrictions such as no dairies and only low glycemic fruits and with the occasional fish might be a safer approach when it comes to prostate cancer. Look at it as Vegan Keto if you wish.

[yehsch in reply to Mascouche]

Thank you for your answer.Keto alone might not be enough.

I use hot baths as thermotherapy, too, sport, and Metformin.

I took red Macca too, but not a long time.

Flax seeds bread and soya could have helped for me too.

The idea is to use a cumulative synergy of different approaches and a long term life style...

[Mascouche in reply to yehsch]

Hi again Yeshsch, just thought of something. Now that Dmwalker's cancer has transformed into small cell cancer, maybe that form of prostate cancer is one that feeds of sugar unlike the more common forms of prostate cancer.

[yehsch in reply to Mascouche]

It could be the case. I forgot to say that loosing weight is important too. When one has only muscles left and is exercising, the tumor might have a hard time getting food....

[Mascouche]

Dmwalker, now that we can read your whole post, I must say that this is like a horror story and you've just made me more hesitant than I already was at the idea of adding a second-line drug like Zitiga to the Lupron I have already begun taking. I feel for you and I am so sorry that you are having it this badly.