Great results....so far.

[NorYug]

I was originally diagnosed in 2012. Gleason 7. PSA around 4. No mets. Got 40 radiation treatments, but PSA never fell below .6. Started to gradually increase in 2015, and then accelerated in 2019 to 65. Bone scans in 10/19 showed a few mets on hips and ribs. Prognosis: 3 = 4 years. At that point, started on Lupron and Erleada.

PSA dropped to 0.29 in two months and has been steadily inching downward since then. Most recent was last week, .01. Had another bone scan three months ago. Mets have gotten much smaller or gone. Doctor's comment: "complete remission!" I've experienced very little in the way of side effects. I'm 72.

While I'm counting my blessings, naturally I'm wondering about the future. The best I can get from the doctor: You're doing great. Right now, we're just riding the wave. You'll stay on Erleada until it stops working, which could be a few months, but probably not more than another year or two....at which time we'll switch to another drug, and then another. And then there's always chemo. How long all that will last is impossible to say.

And, I'm thinking...my PSA dropped so fast and so far and so steadily, with virtually no side effects....and I feel so good, seems like that would suggest that Erleada and the meds that follow are more likely to work much longer than the 1 - 2 years balance of my original prognosis. No guarantees, of course, but I feel like I'm going to make it to 80+.

So, bottom line, doesn't my great experience over the last two years make it more likely that I'll significantly outlive that original prognosis? Or, am I just foolishly optimistic?

Ron

[tango65]

There is info indicating that when an anti androgen like erleada fails it is most effective to continue treatment with chemo, since the mechanism of resistant are similar for all the anti androgens.

nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/N...

In some cases chemo can make the cancer to respond again to the anti androgens.

Besides chemo there is immunotherapy with Provenge and radioactive treatment with Xofigo and Lu 177 PSMA which have shown to offer a survival advantage.

If it is possible to study the somatic genome of the cancer, it may be determined that the cancer could be controlled by Keytruda, Olaparib or Rucaparib. There is also chemo with cabazitaxel alone or combine with platin compounds etc. etc. It is possible to repeat cabazitaxel and obtain some control of the cancer.

Then there are multiple clinical trials with Ac 225, Thorium, CAR T Cells, Bite immunotherapy etc. etc.

Many possibilities to control the cancer for many years.

[ARIES29]

Nothing wrong with having optimism Ron. I am 72 & was diagnosed 10 years ago with this disease & it certainly helps to be positive & exercise I found.

As they will tell you here there are many different treatments but living day to day with optimism certainly helps me.

[dadzone43]

Ron, that is a crystal ball question that no one can answer. I certainly understand and respect where you are coming from -- we all share that nagging question. As the Buddha (may have) said: let that shit go.

[Hidden]

GREAT news NorYugWhat is Erleada???

I am on Lupron only after 5 doses of chemo.

Thanks,

Tom

[j-o-h-n]

Greetings Guy......Please tell us your bio. Age? Location? When diagnosed? Treatment(s)? Treatment center(s)? Scores Psa/Gleason? Medications? Doctor's name(s)?

All info is voluntary, but it helps us help you and helps us too. When you respond, copy and paste it in your home page for your use and for other members’ reference.

THANK YOU AND KEEP POSTING!!!

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 09/06/2021 9:36 PM DST