hi!
My father had his appointment today and his psa is up to 16 (back to where he started 2 years ago). He is chemo naive. Started xtandi and Lupron in 2021. Switched to aberitone in November 2022.
so he has to get a bone scan and do blood work again in two weeks to see his doctor I. A month.
feeling a little defeated today. Anyone else have a similar projectory? Advice?
Hello,
You might want to talk to your Dad’s oncologist about clinical trials that might still be recruiting in your area.
I’ll keep this in mind going forward. Seasid gave me a very helpful and thorough guide on how to look up trials.
It's hard to understand why he is chemo naive at this point. Is his blood work poor?
BTW -unless he is taking metformin for diabetes, that and his plant-based diet may explain why he feels bloated and eats little.
I’m not sure if his bloodwork is poor. What kind of issues equate to poor bloodwork- maybe I can link something. I mainly think he opted out of chemo to try to squeeze QOL in his opinion despite doctors orders. Would that be referred to as doublet therapy?
I’ve been trying to pick up pieces and figure out what’s happening/how I can give hope or help.
After todays appointment he mentioned possible radiation/ chemo in the future???
TA- do you think chemo provides substantial help at this point after zytiga and xtandi failed?
Yes, diabetic for many years. He switched his diet up after dxand was on the cusp of not being for a little. I know he eats meat sometime.
My father has vocalized many times that he doesn’t want my help which is why I’m kinda clueless on most things.
Too bad. Chemo increases QOL. Not during treatment, but afterward.
Like any loving child, you want to fix your father. The best thing you can do is do what he wants you to do. Trying to fix him by forcing him to eat useless diets that he doesn't want and can't stick to only leads to disappointment and resentment. If you let him take the lead, you might find that, over time, he lets you in more. Right now, he has lost control of his body, and he will look for ways to regain some control of his life, even if that means avoiding others who are trying to control him.
Thanks TA. You are right. Will back off and live in the moment more. This won’t be the last you hear from me. I really appreciate everyone’s help and perspective.
the answer is yes chemo does help period. It extended my life by 7 years so far along with the usual cocktail of Lupron and zytiga and radiation. Now I accept that I’m short on options as I enter year 8 but I am going to take whatever is available which for me is Pluvicto feb 1.
That’s incredible. Thanks for shedding the light on that for me. Wishing you the best.
Everyone has up days and there are down days. Dont let the down get you. Go to a movie, talk to a friend, go for a walk.
Dont mind me. I am layman. 😊
Thank you. just reading those things created an ease.
Have you talked to the doctor about a PSMA-Pet scan. The link to a video below from the Prostate Cancer Research Institute questions using bone and CT scans at all now that PSMA-Pet scans are available. Check this video out at around the 7:50 mark for that statement.
youtube.com/watch?v=Th42pFO...
The entire video is interesting if you have the time.
helped my dad set up his patient portal today to access bone scan results. Blood work tests are good & within normal range . He has Mets on his spine which have shrunk since scan last year but 2 new Mets on his rib and spine and foot. Psa rose from 16 on 12/27 to 22 on 1/9. Have to wait to see what doc says in regards to Mets. Radiation and chemo up next possibly.
For those who have had chemo- what does that look like? I understand it to be a week of feeling bad then 3 weeks ok and then another treatment and restart the cycle?
Is chemo expensive? Do most insurances cover?
MO wants to pause Zytiga when PSA reaches 0
Bone Mets and rising PSA
Undetectable PSA with bone lesions? 
Rising PSA … Clear PSMA SCAN
At what PSA will a PSMA PET scan be useful?
