1st round Jevtana/Carboplatin chemo treatment completed.

[HopingForTheBest1]

Updated blood work 3 weeks after initial treatment completed showed PSA drop of almost 80 percent, from 62 to 14! AST and ALT liver enzymes spiked up. MO felt that 2nd chemo treatment should be delayed 1 week to allow liver enzymes to decline by drinking a lot more water each day. Otherwise, there may be an issue with my liver that needs to to addressed. I expect the chemo toxicity has caused the liver to work overtime to filter out the toxins.

Feeling well, with no negative side effects. Sleeping at least 7+ hours each night. Previous back pain, necessitating regular use of Tylenol or Tramadol, disappeared 10 days ago. Neulasta treatment during chemo has boosted white blood cell count. Red blood cell count still below normal, but stable.

Overall, very happy with the results so far. Hoping it continues for a long time. 😀👍🍻

[StayingOptimistic]

Sounds great. Lots of luck and more success

[Hidden]

Please keep us informed the best you can. A lot of members including myself see Jevtana/Carboplatin chemo treatment in our futures. Finally best of luck to you sir.

[Tall_Allen]

Fantastic early response to the chemo combination! Hopefully, the liver will get used to it.

[NickJoy]

That is great news.

[CAMPSOUPS]

Thank you for as always keeping us updated. You have been thru a lot.I'm really glad to see this working for you even though the liver numbers are concerning. I hope you can continue this treatment and continue the otherwise good response.

As nameless said this may someday be my treatment so again my thanks to you and joy in your good response.

Also again want to commend you on all those trials you went thru. Thanks!

[HopingForTheBest1 in reply to CAMPSOUPS]

I truly believe that I am not only hopefully helping myself, but also my fellow warriors as well. As the 3 musketeers used to say - one for all and all for one.

We are all in this fight together, and participating in clinical trials will help find the next viable treatment option. It won't happen otherwise.

[BRCA2MX in reply to HopingForTheBest1]

Good spirit, good work and good luck. You're parting the jungle for many of us!

[Aodh]

So glad to hear that you’re getting good results from the chemo. It’s good to hear good news.

Hugh

[SPEEDYX]

Praying for the best!!!

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

I guess the Den was getting too warm......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 03/06/2022 3:41 PM EST

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

Spring coming hibernation ending!

[Grumpyswife]

Wonderful news about the PSA drop and that you are out of pain! Hope it lasts.

[leebeth]

Tremendous response so far! My husband’s receiving the same chemo cocktail. He was happy that his PSA is coming down, but not nearly as fast as yours! From 41.3 to 33.1 after first, and down to 18.7 after 2. Just received 3rd, and has scans next week. He pounds water all day and doesn’t drink at all, in hopes of keeping those liver enzymes normal.

It’s great to hear of your success and know that you are experiencing the same challenges.

[skateguy]

I too started the combination of Jevtana/Carboplatin chemotherapy. 2nd dose is this coming Thursday (3/10). Prior to my first dose my two oncologist were saying hospice was the next step. At the time I could feel my body getting worse. Since the first treatment I’m feeling better. I looking forward to my next dose. I travel from Virginia to Minnesota for the treatment. I asked an oncologist in Virginia if I could get the chemotherapy here. He said no that he could not give me Carboplatin. However, my oncologist at the Mayo Clinic was surprised no one offered it to me in Virginia. Please feel free to weigh with an explanation. Thanks.

[HopingForTheBest1 in reply to skateguy]

That is very surprising, and I suspect not true. We all need to be knowledgeable enough about our disease to question and challenge our doctors whenever we need to. We are our own best advocates.

[leebeth in reply to skateguy]

I believe, based on our consults for second and third opinions, that the standard is not to add the carboplatin until after 3 doses of Jevtana. If that response is inadequate, they add carboplatin. However, 2 of the 3 oncologists believed it would be ok to start with the cocktail due to the aggressive nature of my husband’s cancer, but it was not their first suggestion. Upon reflection, they agreed. So I think your Virginia doctors are simply being “by the book”.

[skateguy in reply to leebeth]

I had three rounds of Doctaxel and was told to stop because my PSA was rising. I did about 6 rounds of Jevtanna and was told to stop based on an MRI. No one suggested Jevtana/Carboplatin. When I was recently in the hospital, an oncologist stopped by and I asked him about it and he implied it was not approved for prostate cancer. I’m now seeing Dr Eugene Kwon at the Mayco Clinic who was surprised that no one offered to me. This morning I emailed my two local oncologist and asked them if they would offer it.

[leebeth in reply to skateguy]

That really is terrible! The U of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, and Mayo all suggested the combo for my husband. U of C wanted 3 rounds of just the Jevtana first, but the others agreed we needed a strong hammer. We are going to Mayo later this week for scans, after the third round. Our insurance had no problem paying, and they do look to see if the treatment is approved. No appeals were needed. I think you need to look around for another local oncologist. Our local is completely cooperative with recommendations made by our consults. Are you close to Johns Hopkins? Virginia and Maryland are close, depending which area you are from. Beats flying to Rochester every 3 weeks!

[skateguy in reply to leebeth]

Thank you. You gave me hope in getting chemo locally. I’ve been seeing Dr Denmeade at Johns Hopkins and Robert Dreicer at UVA Charlottesville. I live in Fredericksburg, VA.

[leebeth in reply to skateguy]

We saw Catherine Handy Marshall at JH and really liked her.

[skateguy in reply to leebeth]

Dr Denmeade isn’t a very good at over seeing patients. My opinion. I think he is more interested in research than patients. I don’t like my UVA Dr either because he is a know it all. I’m glad I connected Dr Kwon. Over the course of 12 years I’ve been under the care of 12/14 oncologist, not all at once of course, haha. None of which I would consider good.

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to leebeth]

Thank you for spelling out the sequence. It is something worthy of copying and saving. Unfortunately progression will come so I appreciate knowing what you just spelled out.I can just imagine myself starting out on Jevtana and asking the dr. "why aren't you giving me carboplatin" ? lol.

I have in my head those grouped together. I wasn't aware of the sequencing. Thanks again for pointing that out.

[leebeth in reply to CAMPSOUPS]

Glad it helped. U of C suggested the sequence. JH did too, but I pointed out that since my husband started on ADT and docetaxel literally the same day last April, when first diagnosed, we couldn’t be confident he had any response to the chemo. What response he had could have entirely been ADT. So she then agreed that we really couldn’t wait the 9 weeks to see if Jevtana was working; we had to hit it hard. With holidays, it was already a month between the scan and chemo starting. All the docs were off for at least 2 weeks.

My hubby became castrate resistant so fast that we needed to act. PSA at time of the scan was 12.2, and a month later when starting chemo it was 41.3. He feels great, though, and tolerates all these treatments well so far. Just some bone pain from mets.

Good luck to you!

[StePeteMN in reply to skateguy]

Are you getting infusions in Rochester, or maybe in Maplewood?

[skateguy in reply to StePeteMN]

Maplewood.

[StePeteMN in reply to skateguy]

Me too. I'm starting just a little later than planned as my usual MO there was gone for a little while. I have high hopes for the J+C.

[MMK-XFuture]

Always nice to hear good news. Cheers.

[Curehunter]

Did you ever have Docetaxel chemo treatment or just went straight to Jevtana and Carboplatin.

[HopingForTheBest1 in reply to Curehunter]

I am coming up to 4 years on my journey, and this is my first chemo treatment. My MO did initially offer docetaxl as my first treatment, but at the time I found research that indicated Zytiga/Prednisone would be more effective. And, I wasn't ready to have any chemo treatment due to concern about side effects. I didn't want to use a sledge hammer so early on in my disease.

[Survivor1965 in reply to HopingForTheBest1]

When I was in the infancy of my disease my doc at Mayo told me he wanted to drop a nuclear bomb on a dandelion. That was 8 years ago and here I sit with undetectable PSA. And I had highlly agressive disease, Gleason 9, 4+5. Just something to think about.

[Survivor1965]

It wasn’t until I did the Jevtana/Carboplatin combo that my cancer really shut down. My onc said at the time Jevtana should be first line chemo instead of taxotere, but insure company won’t do it , or wouldn’t then in 2015. Afterwards hit it with Xtandi/Lupron combo and still PSA undetectable today.

[Grumpyswife in reply to Survivor1965]

Does anyone know if that is still true about insurance companies not approving Jevtana before Taxotere?

I was surprised when the MO wanted only a 20% reduction in Grump's first chemo and wanted Taxotere. I suspected it was insurance related but wasn't sure.

[HopingForTheBest1 in reply to Grumpyswife]

Not the case for me. I have Aetna Medicare PPO.

[keepinon]

Congrats on the great response! I pray that it keeps going that way. Thanks for keeping us updated.

[Hidden]

Great news I'm considering the same treatment. Have you already had docetaxel?

[HopingForTheBest1 in reply to Hidden]

I have not had Docetaxl.

[StePeteMN]

Thanks for posting, I'm eager to watch your progress as I too am scheduled very soon to begin Jevtana plus Carboplatin. I just quit taking my Abiraterone for benefit of liver. Also, I'm lifted by the responses to your message from others who have seen good results from the J+C mixture. I too, am hoping for the best.

[j-o-h-n]

"Hoping it continues for a long time. 😀👍🍻"

Good Show.......I'll give you a minimum of 25 more years...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 03/06/2022 3:38 PM EST

[Vitaminlover]

Wonderful news. Keep feeling well and wishing you continued success.

[Faith1111]

Following your journey closely. You and Bob are similar. Glad to hear of your fantastic response! So encouraging and hopeful.

[HopingForTheBest1 in reply to Faith1111]

Is he, or was he, on the same chemo combo? How is he doing?