Hi. Nice post. All info is appreciated. Chemo with ADT was about 2004? Zytiga and Xtandi about 2010 and 2011? Xgeva? I'm sure someone will correct me. So, survival stats from 2000 are maybe for historians. Huge game changers since then. I have extensive bone mets with a skeletal event (T-12 fracture). First survival stats I brought up in 2017 was 5 year survival of 1%. Talk about a downer. It is now 5 and a half years later. My opinion, and some won't like it, is that the drugs work, or they don't. You can jump off a cliff and say, I can fly, I can fly; sometimes you can grab onto a branch, sometimes you can't. Sorry for being brutal. I have seen so many good men go down for the count, and so many that are still with us. Almost any statistics a person googles is out of date. We are changing the statistics every day. And we are all a statistic of one. Lupron, Chemo, Xtandi and Xgeva will someday quit working for me. That is a fact. Then I will be into the Alice and Wonderland drugs of a desperate man. I need to go fry some pork chops.
Luckily since this was written in 2005, many new treatments have been approved for prostate cancer including Zytiga, Xtandi, Xofigo, Erleada, Nubeqa, Jevtana, Provenge, Keytruda, (PARP inhibitors Haven't kept track of which ones) and Pluvicto to name a few. Median life expectancy today for those diagnosed at stage 4 is over 5 years and going up.
That's good news for those of us with advanced prostate cancer.
Yes, it's quite an interesting method of estimating survival stats.The method they use is period analysis. This has less precision than a traditional cohort analysis, but has the implicit benefit in reflecting the recent advances in treatments. Also, since the screening program was widened it will bake younger, fitter and less grade cancers into the mix - which all will be included since you're using the recent data and the older data is discarded. It would help counter that if the age grouping included more granularity than just < 65. It's good that they include the absolute and relative data. Personally I want to see the absolute data values. I'm not interested how I compare to the US population in general.
Ideally though you need the more recent 5/10 year stats, not for year 2000, since as you say, will include the advancement in treatments over the last 10 years.
When I was diagnosed in 2016, the doctor said I had a 50/50 chance of 5 years. I’m in my 6th year now and doing ok. Had a scare a couple of months ago with a new bone cancer but it has stayed stable since
Six years ago this past June I was diagnosed with stage four PC with three bone Mets in my pelvis. I have been on Firmagon every 28 days for the past 6+ years. Was on Xgeva for two years, bone Mets disappeared but got a little Dead jaw syndrome. I then quit Xgeva and have not gone back on it and my jaw is fine now. The Jaw problem resolved itself within a year and it was no biggie. When I was first diagnosed I read that I probably only had three years before I died. In my estimation don’t believe any statistic that you read. 6+ years later I am golfing , Swimming, hiking, and anything else I like to do accept getting laid.
I don’t waste too much time reading much about prostate cancer I have too many other things to do that I enjoy. By the way I dine out 2 to 3 times a week and enjoy a bottle of wine with almost every dinner🍷
I am 74 years old now and at this point I see no reason why my cancer will slow me down. I do know that at some point my Firmagon will stop working and I will have to find another treatment. I just hope I don’t get hit by a bus before the Firmagon stops doing its job
God bless you and keep on enjoying life we have no control for when the end comes only God knows🙏🙏🙏
Good for you sir. This data is just an estimate. I like to look at the details of things, but totally agree with your philosophy , max out your life. 👍
Like your post DannyBoy. Like your name too, same as mine. i feel the same. Ay Dx , in 2012, with Stage 4 and 7 bone mets, grade 4+3+7, the Doctor told me 3-4 years. That was 10 years ago and today I am undetectable. I have been grabbing onto every branch out there on my Journey(re Monte's post) I know what heavenly source holds me up!. As always keep the faith!
Yes sir we have to keep the faith. My PSA has never gotten to undetectable for 6+ years it has been between .9 and 2.3.If it wasn’t for the Firmagon shot every 28 days I wouldn’t know I had Pc. I would just think I’m getting a little bit older which a.m. 74+3 months.
Tonight dinner with friends a little bottle of red may be a Sambuca and tomorrow Golf.
Most important every day I spend a few minutes reading a little scripture and thanking God for everything he has given me an abundance🙏🇺🇸🍷
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