PSA doubling as Zytiga failing

[lincolnj8]

My PSA is doubling every month or so. This is after about 5 years of Zytiga. The cancer is everywhere, bones, organs, lymph nodes and muscles. Oncologist recommends Chemo next. Find out next week. Made a trip to the Sidemen's cancer center a few weeks ago and was told I've done very well for someone whose PSA was 800 5 years ago. Just curious how the chemo will work. I'm very active, been processing firewood all summer. Just stacked a half a cord yesterday. Yes I'm in pain after physical activity but it is so rewarding. Again, just curious how the chemo will affect me. Again my psa is doubling. I'm waiting for the latest results.

[meowlicious99]

did you get any testing for PARP targeting ?

[lincolnj8 in reply to meowlicious99]

It was never brought up at the Siedman Cancer center.

[tango65]

Some info about chemo by an expert in the treatment of PC:

grandroundsinurology.com/dr...

[lincolnj8 in reply to tango65]

Great information, thank you..

[Concerned-wife in reply to tango65]

I have always thought this one of the most helpful articles, too.

[spencoid2 in reply to tango65]

a very good article but i still want to avoid chemo if possible it still sounds awful. peripheral neuropathy would put me out of business, or maybe i would just have to build better machines

[Hidden]

I am sorry ,Son of a gun! Dammed doubling Psa is no bueno . However some guys in similar shoes have done well with the newer .chemo .. . I’m pulling for you to knock that sob into the dirt again buddy! ❤️🙏

[lincolnj8 in reply to Hidden]

From having a PSA of 800, 3 days in the hospital plus 4 pints of blood, I have been very fortunate. Living in the country, harvesting firewood every year with minimal pain. Plus having a loving wife at my side. 5 years now with the battle. 50 years with my wife.

Getting ready for winter

[SeosamhM in reply to lincolnj8]

All of it beautiful, LJ8! Proper reality, proper metaphor: Keep chopping wood and making your life warm. As for chemo response, there is no telling how you as an individual will respond. But there is great advice here, i.e., ask about (and get) genetic testing! Even if they don’t think it will affect your treatment, your genetic story should be added to the database so that our descendants may not need to go through this! Good luck, brother. - Joe M

[lincolnj8 in reply to SeosamhM]

Thanks SeosamhM I'll ask about the genetic testing. Could help my son

[tango65 in reply to lincolnj8]

Lu 177 PSMA is as effective as chemo, some may say better than chemo. The problems Lu 177 PSMA treatment in the USA requires previous chemo for the insurance companies to pay for the treatment. If financially possible it can be obtained abroad in many places,

[lincolnj8 in reply to tango65]

Thanks for the info

[tango65 in reply to lincolnj8]

It is info based in the TheraP study:

thelancet.com/journals/lanc...

[lincolnj8 in reply to tango65]

Thank you for the info.

[Hidden in reply to lincolnj8]

I applaud your life ! Good job stacking the wood! We live semi country also . My Psa high was a mere 20 , tubes and a foley wrecked havoc on me for 18 months . Then in the clear. Now in the eye of storm . Congrats on 50 …at dx we wed 7 yrs ago . Whoohoo! What honeymoon? Take care Lincoln! Keep chopping and stacking ! 💪🤙🏽

[lincolnj8 in reply to Hidden]

We need to live life as we want. Don't let anything stop us or get in our way. Do the best we can and let the cards fall as they may.

[Hidden in reply to lincolnj8]

Yep! Let the chips fall where they may! Our time here is shortened . Every good day is a blessing after a #4 dx ..

[lincolnj8 in reply to Hidden]

Absolutely

[Shooter1 in reply to lincolnj8]

I also still split Firewood by hand--actually I do use a maul. I have enough split and stacked for a couple of years. 1/2 cord a day is about my max now..somedays even less. 5 1/2 yrs into this dreaded disease and still going... Only 43 years with my loving wife, but aiming for 50. PSA was increasing 75 to 90% monthly, but has decided to increase faster now... 3X two months ago and 4X this last month... Trying a BAT treatment as most all the others have run their course. PSMA scan next week and then may get on Lu-177 waiting list in Seattle if scan qualifies me.. Best of luck to you. So far I feel good, but don't have lots of energy..

[Hidden in reply to Shooter1]

God Bless , brother! 🙏❤️

[lincolnj8 in reply to Shooter1]

20 years ago I split wood by hand. Used a splitting maul and wedges. Then ran into elm wood. Wow, so stringy. Had a whole tree to do. Bought a splitter. So much easier. My grandfather was a lumberjack in northern Canada for years. He gave me a lot of tips splitting wood. Btw, propane is our standard heat source (in northeast Ohio). Cost around $1000 to fill our 500-gallon tank (400 gal -80%). Using propane only would cost around $2000 a year. Our wood stove heats our entire house. And it is much warmer than propane heat. If necessary, $1000 would buy a lot of wood. Our electricity, natural gas, propane and heating oil seem to be going way up in price here. Hard on retired people. Harvesting firewood is so rewarding in many ways

[Shooter1 in reply to lincolnj8]

Yep, wood heats you at least 3 times. Cutting, splitting and burning.... Also great to get outside and exercise with a result other than just sweating.

[lincolnj8 in reply to Shooter1]

Love it..

[nobaday]

I am going for Lu177 after nearly 5 years on Zytiga. See my posts. I start with my my first Lu277 infusion on Sednesday.

[Fightinghard in reply to nobaday]

good luck. The LU has been helping many of us. Main side effect is fatigue. Lasts about a week

[Hidden in reply to nobaday]

Good luck nobaday! 👏🙏

[Rsdutcher7]

have doc run both genetic & somatic gene tests first. If you have something like PTEN mutation then chemo won’t work so no need to beat yourself up. If you have something like BRCA then PARP inhibitors would work better. Chemo failed completely on my husband recently but we did t find out he had PTEN until after we tried it. Beat him up for nothing.

[lincolnj8 in reply to Rsdutcher7]

I'll ask my oncologist. Thank you.

[bglendi53]

i know how you feel, mine quadrupled in 5 weeks after going down after the first month.

[lincolnj8 in reply to bglendi53]

Just going to hang in there and hope for the best.

[Shorehousejam in reply to lincolnj8]

Have you tried immunotherapy and genome sequencing testing?

As my other post mentioned?

Hang in there, keep throwing the logs onto the fire

[lincolnj8 in reply to Shorehousejam]

Not offered here

[Shooter1 in reply to Shorehousejam]

I had both and am hoping for Lu-177 next.

[Hidden in reply to lincolnj8]

This reminds me of that “ Hang in there baby” poster ,of the kitten hanging on the end of a rope by one nail . That’s all a man can do . Hang on and pray for mercy ! I’m praying for you ! 🙏

[lincolnj8 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Better days are on the way. They are.

[Hidden in reply to lincolnj8]

🙏❤️

[lincolnj8 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your prayers and support

[MateoBeach]

the cell free DNA (blood test) analysis, Guardant 360, would be a good way to go. And consider one round of chemo anyway, to put the brakes on the PC growth. You can continue if you tolerate it well. It stop at first sign of peripheral neuropathy. Then you will be eligible for Pluvicto Lu treatments. Just some thoughts. Keep chopping and loving. Paul

[lincolnj8 in reply to MateoBeach]

Thank you MateoBeach.

[Hidden]

From what husband's oncologist explained, it depends on a patient's over all health, determination and ability to deal with side effects. Diabetics and heart patients probably not good candidates for chemo. My husband has both, plus emphysema, narcolepsy and parkinsons. So everyone is different. Attitude also makes a difference! Good luck.

[lincolnj8 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the support and info