Just starting my voyage

[Lslal]

Hi, I was diagnosed end of Feb 22 with Stage 3 prostate by my family doctor. Flurry of test has shown Gleason 9, stage 4 with extensive metastatic. Initial PSA was 835, followed by 940. Then began lupron in March and PSA went to 117 and last week is now 18. Oncologist concerned and suggested the triple threat because I’m is good health without any underlying health issues. So it’ll be lupron, Zytiga (+ prednisone) and chemo for me starting week of May 30.

Research has shown some good responses but 2-4 years seems to be the norm.

To tell you the truth I’m scared and any ‘good’ news would be appreciated. Anyone gone into remission with what I have? Does the chemo do wonders and reduce the Mets.

Thanks for your support

[Tall_Allen]

I'm impressed! You are getting the latest and best protocol from the PEACE1 trial:

prostatecancer.news/2021/05...

Chemo usually has less side effects if used early.

[Magnus1964]

Sounds like you are already responding well. Good luck.

[Shooter1]

I like what you are doing. Hit it hard early. I went with xtandi and am starting year 6 with a few bumps along the way. If I was just starting now, I too would have started with zytiga. Best of luck to you.

[Hidden]

Sounds like you are on a great treatment plan, the best currently.

I think the survival numbers you mentioned are a bit low though. Of course we are all individuals and we can't use statistics to predict the future.

That said, the median survival numbers in the PEACE 1 trial (that's Lupron+Zytiga+Docetaxel) have passed 5 years. A lot of recent trials have proven that the earlier you use these drugs, the better. Less of the bastards alive to reproduce.

Hoping the best for you.

[Chrisbaird]

Sounds a good medication plan been on same 18 months reduced PSA Good luck

[Irun]

I had a similar diagnosis and after chemo , radiotherapy , zoladex (ongoing ) and zytega(for 6 years now) have lived for 7.5 years and the emphasis is on living . I have run 15,000 miles since diagnosis and just finished a trek from London to Tipperary over 23 days and about 500 miles and life is good . Hope that gives you something to believe in but either way , a day spent being sad is wasted and you never get it back so don’t even waste a minute !

[Muffin2019]

Chemo in 2018, lupron still going on, arbitrone since 2020 but not ad effective ad PSA risihg so entering the arrow study, will get both meds or just the one. Gotta keep the beast down. Scheduled for the PET scan on June 1st. My last pills is Monday, then take a week to ckear out the arbitrone then start the xtandi. Best part is I will get the PET/CT scan that the insurance would not approve scan and the meds are at no cost to me, so why not. Doing this will give me more options down thd road ax per thd oncologist , he has not been wrong yet.

[Quick2019]

I am 6 years past finding out very much the same diagnosis. Do not get to focused on the "USE BY DATEs" given based on averages. Live each day to the fullest! Best of everything to you and your loved one.

[Hopeful129]

My husband is on a similar journey. He started on the triple therapy a few weeks ago but he’s on ADT, Daralutomide and Docetaxel. He will then have radiotherapy to prostate and lymphs and a few mets. He’s had one chemo treatment so far and had few side effects. He is focusing on eating well, exercising daily and some supplements. He did a fast mimicking fast day before and day of chemo and he also iced hands and feet during treatment. He will continue this through the 6 sessions. After the shock of his diagnosis at 50, we are in a better place mentally and try to be positive. Good luck with your triple attack

[Boywonder56]

As you see your not alone.....welcome you to the club noone wishes to join....evry one has a expiration date.....just live like yours is tommorow....wishing you a lil irish luck ....slaentje'.....bw

[SteveTheJ]

Define remission.... I've seen here that men have lived with stage 4 cancer for up to 20 years; OTOH, I know a guy dying right now whose diagnosis was in 2019. (He was diagnosed in the hospital ER because he hadn't been going to the doctor.)

AFAIK, there is no scenario in which FDA-approved treatment for the cancer causes the cancer to disappear; however, clearly there are men who have lived in treatment for a very long time. The tumors can stop growing and probably eventually go away given the right circumstances but I'm not sure who knows what those circumstances are exactly.

Having said that, IMHO only, you're on the wrong track to look at it that way. Nothing has really changed; after you absorb the shock, face the fact that nobody knows how long they will live nor the cause of their death. You could get flattened by a runaway steamroller; you could get struck by lightning, fire, heart attack, and so on. So don't think about it in terms of shelf life; look at it in terms of getting the information and testing you need to survive.

This forum is an excellent source of such information so go forward, be happy, be grateful. Spend time with the people you care about the most. Everything else is out of your hands.

[j-o-h-n]

So tell us your age and your location (state, city).... We wont tell, we can keep a secret.

BTW You're off and running.....Good show.... mate.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 05/22/2022 6:03 PM DST

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

I’m 65 and located in Ontario, Canada

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

Thanks,,,,Keep posting...

I'm 85 and located in NYC... (Don't tell)...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 05/23/2022 10:07 AM DST