Mets to the spine: Has anyone ever had... - Advanced Prostate...

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Mets to the spine

Granica4818 profile image
40 Replies

Has anyone ever had Mets to the spine? Pain? My husband's pain is getting to be unbearable even with meds. He finishes 5 treatments of radiation two weeks ago and starting steroids today. My other question is will the pain get better? And how long until it does? Is there ever surgery to remove the tumor? Thank you for any input. PSA two weeks after radiation was 0.03 will check again in two weeks to see if systemic treatment will be started.

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Granica4818
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GP24 profile image
GP24

Mets to spine are common for PCa. I would not start ADT while the PSA value is below 2.0 ng/ml to avoid the side effects of ADT. Some doctors recommend higher levels to start with ADT. However, to see if the ADT reduces the pain, he could take ADT for e.g. three months now. There is surgery for mets to the spine but this is usually done when the patient cannot walk anymore due to cord compression.

Granica4818 profile image
Granica4818 in reply to GP24

Thank you. The Dr will let him start now as his PSA was only 0.16 when mets was found. Highest PSA ever was 4.6 , but gleason 9

daleboy3 profile image
daleboy3

Hello, the reason I am responding to your request regarding pain is that I used a enzyme named Serrapeptase it’s a enzyme from the Japanese silk worm that dissolves it’s cacoon to enter into the world using the enzyme Serrapeptase 80,000 iu as this Enzyme when swallowed in capsule form, travels throughout the body digesting all dead tissues cleaning the arteries in its path & when it “entered my enlarged prostate I could feel it working & digesting the inflammation within it “shortly after the pains were reduced by 60 to 70% so I am going to suggest your husband buys Serrapeptase the strength of 80,000 iu. the iu stands for international units “If taken once in the morning & once at night until pain subsides” then keep them until required for pain but as I stated earlier it reduces inflammation that causes the pain, you can buy these online, I hope this helps you, let me know how you get on please 🙏

Granica4818 profile image
Granica4818 in reply to daleboy3

I am definitely going to try this thank you

daleboy3 profile image
daleboy3 in reply to Granica4818

what I’ve found is I put my faith into using natural remedies every time I get a health issue & it always works to the point that family & friends say: what can I take for Covid for instance & I say Black fermented Garlic capsules they try it & are back on their feet in 7 days as it builds the bodies defence mechanisms without steroids

in reply to daleboy3

This is what jim uses. He has Mets to spine, no pain and able to work. This brand is an excellent brand called double wood. Good luck dale!

Double Wood Brand.
in reply to

For Gp24. Good luck and good info from Dale!

Granica4818 profile image
Granica4818 in reply to

Thank you. I will go get some. we are willing to try anything at this point.

EdBacon profile image
EdBacon in reply to Granica4818

Please let us know if it works. Thanks.

Granica4818 profile image
Granica4818 in reply to EdBacon

yes I sure will. I will order today.

daleboy3 profile image
daleboy3 in reply to Granica4818

we’re you able to try Serrapeptase & see pain relief

in reply to Granica4818

I am so sorry you are both going through this. In the beginning it’s so confusing, as you are still in shock not knowing what to expect or what to do. I am thinking about you!

Granica4818 profile image
Granica4818 in reply to

Thank you so much. The spport from everyone really helps us through this.

dhccpa profile image
dhccpa in reply to

How do you know that's a good brand? I've used their artemisinin, but had no idea how much it was or is.

in reply to dhccpa

dh, yes they are expensive, but not a waste of time and money. I have noticed through the years, the few they offer are single ingredient, made in USA with the cleanest of standards with fda approved facilities for manufacturing. The products, have high standards of purity, as I will only use certain supplement companies, eliminating the ones that offer crazy promises with lots of ingredients. I am going on 50 years of this lifestyle. I hope I have answered your question , it’s a good one, thank you!

dhccpa profile image
dhccpa in reply to

Thanks

in reply to dhccpa

what is artemisinin ?

dhccpa profile image
dhccpa in reply to

It's an herb that pops up in alternative cancer treatment, like serrapeptase.

spencoid2 profile image
spencoid2 in reply to

added to my arsenal 🛸

harleyharhar profile image
harleyharhar in reply to daleboy3

I wonder if this is the same as serratiopeptidase? My fathr has taken proteolytic enzymes before and it has it as one of the ingredients

daleboy3 profile image
daleboy3 in reply to harleyharhar

yes you are right it’s the same enzyme under two names both from the Japanese silk worm apparently it inhibits pain wherever inflammation occurs

davidw777 profile image
davidw777

Until diagnosed June 2021, I was active, fit and I thought healthy.

I had increasing back pain that was eventually diagnosed as prostate cancer that had metastasized to my spine. PSA 331. The pain was excruciating. 3 days after diagnosis I had surgery to remove the largest of 3 tumors at T8. It was causing spinal cord compression. I started ADT, no chemo, no radiation. My PSA dropped over the months until it became undetectable where it remains now 18 months after the surgery. The other 2 tumors are sclerotic.

I have occasional very minor back discomfort that I wouldn't even classify as pain. I haven't taken any pain meds since the surgery, not even a Tylenol. My activities aren't limited in any way.

Everyone responds to treatment differently. In hindsight, the surgery followed by ADT was the best course for me, the surgeon was a Level 5000 Wizard.

Granica4818 profile image
Granica4818 in reply to davidw777

That is an incredible story. I am going to ask about surgery at the next visit. Thank you.

daleboy3 profile image
daleboy3 in reply to Granica4818

just to let you know a breakthrough is almost here they are known as MedBeds they are going to be used around the world it’s a technology that’s been hidden from the public until now & the military will be controlling who goes in them, there will be no millionaire’s getting to the front of the cue so keep a eye on the news & if you want to see one type MedBeds into YouTube

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen

It is common for there to be an increase in pain for about 2 weeks after bone irradiation. The pain is due to inflammation, and a Medrol dose pack may help with the pain until inflammation subsides.

Granica4818 profile image
Granica4818 in reply to Tall_Allen

Thank you. I will request that tomorrow.

mrscruffy profile image
mrscruffy

Have had mets to spine since 2016, never had pain to spine though

JohnInTheMiddle profile image
JohnInTheMiddle

Granica - I can sympathize with your husband. From just a back ache a year ago in 2022 I was finally diagnosed in last Spring with metastatic high-volume prostate cancer, which had compromised three vertebrae and had invaded the epidural space. (My PSA was 1700 and Gleason was 9. And BTW no symptoms otherwise!) There were some ribs involved too but the pain was probably coming from the cancer masses that were pressing on the various nerves coming out of the spine.

The good news is after a lot of therapy I am doing really well and have no pain to speak of now and have full mobility.

I have ended up on full "triplet therapy" (ADT, ARAT, Docetaxel X 6) but no radiation or surgery. They decided against it.

But in the beginning, and here's the important point, I understand it is a typical standard of care (SOC) when you have risky prostate cancer bone mets you start on steroids immediately (apparently dexamethasone in an emergency is more powerful than prednisone, but who knows). At the beginning of my treatment, which was an emergency, I was started right away with the Dexamethasone steroid and the injectable ADT (Firmagon or Degarelix). And a pain specialist gave me a scrip for hydromorphone.

Within a matter of days the pain that had me rolling on the floor in the middle of the night was mostly gone!

I expect the steroid your husband is on is likely stronger than what one can tolerate on the longer term. And based on my experience and reading it's likely to work very fast.

As for pain, it doesn't sound like he has serious pain meds yet? They are often not properly addressed. And there is an excess of fear of addiction. (Codeine etc. is comparatively useless, while too much Tylenol can kill you.) I took pain meds (hydromorphone) for four months then didn't need them any more and I just stopped, no problem.

One question I have which your post reminded me of is why I didn't get radiation. I never found out really. It was a crazy time. And regardless, the result has been good.

Cancer therapy sequencing is a big deal as you know. What the options are for you all given your husband's situation and initial therapies will be unique to him.

A big success getting through the next few weeks!

J.

Granica4818 profile image
Granica4818 in reply to JohnInTheMiddle

Thank you very much. As you wondered about no radiation we wondered about no ADT. But as you say everyone's treatment is specialized for them and what they can and cannot handle. I ust hope we can get ome pain relief so he too can stop rolling around on the floor at night. I will keep you all posted.

In the summer of 2021 I thought I was having a bout of sciatica that just wouldn't ease up. The next visit to the oncologist and psa had popped up to 16. Scan showed met on spine L2. After 3.5 years on lupron and apparently castrate resistant I opted for 6 rounds of docetaxel and put off the Zytiga that kept coming up. Maybe I should have done both. Anyway, the pain subsided quickly after the first dose of chemo, though that may have been mostly from the dex in the infusion and daily prednisone. It seemed to work until a scan last April showed the met was back. This time since it was a single spot I had 10 radiation zaps and finally started the Zytiga, which also requires daily prednisone. I don't think I have had met pain since, but every ache and pain brings that spector and fear back to mind. In fact, I thought it was back last August, but turned out to be Shingles. That's no no fun, but it isn't cancer and it passes. Slowly, but it passes.

Mcrpca profile image
Mcrpca in reply to lookingforamiracle

Just out of curiosity, had you been vaccinated for shingles?

lookingforamiracle profile image
lookingforamiracle in reply to Mcrpca

I had not. Somehow I did not know how much of an ordeal it is.

Ron53 profile image
Ron53

No doubt there is much room for different experiences with such. I had a met(s?) on one of my vertebra. Pain was to the point I could barely walk. (hip, right leg and knee) However, with fentanyl patches and low dose of oxycodone, it was significantly reduced. During the initial discussions with the Radiologist Oncologist, she told me it had been her experience, that 40% received some relief during the two weeks of radiation, 40% found relief within two weeks after radiation ended and 20% did not receive any benefit and other treatments would be required. I thought I was in that 20% group when two weeks had elapsed after the radiation treatments and I was no better. It was not until about a month after the treatments had ended, then over a period of about a week, the pain began to subside. I then weaned myself from the patches and pills and a month later, all was well...no pain at all....6 months later, and I'm still doing fine. (still on ADT of course)

Granica4818 profile image
Granica4818 in reply to Ron53

Thank you that was very helpful and gives us hope.

dhccpa profile image
dhccpa

I have Mets in my vertebrae, but no pain that I can identify with them.

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber

yea , I have extensive mets to my spine, lower spine especially. It’s just IHMO and antidotal , but it depends upon a lot of things. Where the Mets are, how much bone damage is present and proximity to the nerves, activity of the Mets , etc.

For example ….. and this is just my case , surely everyone will be individually different in respect , and as above, but :

For the new year I want wanted to work on my A1C and get more exercise… careful exercise like a low impact stationary bike. Last week …. I’ve already started my “ past the holiday “ carb control eating and I went into our exercise room and rode the stationary bike for just 4 miles. Might not sound like much but it’s a “ lot “ for me. Even my osteoarthritic wife can do a half to a mile and a half.

The day after, in the afternoon, I started experiencing a pain event that encompassed the lower right quarter of my body … seemed like The organs like liver or kidney. It was so extreme , beyond unbearable …I was dressed for Kaiser emergency room , and I hate Kaiser ( I’m going in there and not coming back sometime, I thought this might be it ). I already take pain meds daily and have dilaudid for the breakthrough pains. I ate several dilaudids but nothing happened. Just as I was getting ready to drive to Kaiser or call an ambulance, the dilaudid caught and I could feel it starting to lessen up. After a few hours I could tell the pain was located in a few places in my lower spine and a part of my right rib cage. Now it’s 8 days later and I’m back to my normal ( ? Yayahahahaya) everyday pain management level. And feeling like this is a new day experience, I dodged that bullet.

The point of this diatribe is that …. Maybe he’s straining or pushing on “ things “ with too much activity …. exercise , and needs to take it “ very “ easy for a bit and see if it calms down to where his daily pain meds are adequate. Like me, maybe he’ll have to ease up on activity that includes the lower spine. Give himself a few day or week or two of “ kinda “ low activity and see what happens. See if the intensity cools off.

This is just one of a zillion possibilities and I’m sure the variations are unlimited , but it’s a thought to consider … perhaps it’s worth considering….none of us with a heavy lower spinal met load are going to get better but maybe we can manage “ things “ and be more comfortable.

I hope hubby finds some relief and the “ both “ of you will feel better . Hubby is very lucky to have your loving advocacy for helping him.

❤️❤️❤️

Granica4818 profile image
Granica4818 in reply to Kaliber

Thank you for your response. My Husband has one met on T9 into the tissue and to the rib. You are right about the activity certain things can cause a flare-up. I'm starting to take note of when it happened and what he was doing before the incident.

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Granica4818

a lot of us are just bobing and weaving , trying to be as comfortable as possible and last as long as possible as well. If you can attribute that pain flare up to some physical activity …. avoiding radiation and surgery as much as possible …. thats definitely a good thing.

It’s really nice the strong hand you taken in his care, good for you and good for him yayahahahaya.

❤️❤️❤️

Flyfisherbug profile image
Flyfisherbug

this was a timely question for me. I had to cut short my Christmas vacation in Mexico because of pain in the shoulder and neck that was worse than I’ve ever had. They are working on trying to figure out what it is but after all the different drugs we tried in the last few days I went back on prednisone 5 mg yesterday and have had considerable relief. I had just switched from Zytiga to Xtandi a few weeks before the incident and dropped the prednisone 10 mg. The comments here have given me a lot of insight into my own problem, and especially some hope . Going to show them to my wife who is freaking out since I was acting like a 73 year old,I’m 83,and since this hit ,I’ve been like 93. Good luck to your husband sounds like he is as lucky as I am to have somebody that really loves him and helps with the care.

Granica4818 profile image
Granica4818

we got the second PSA back one month after radiation to the spine T9 and ribs. and it came back as <0.01. So That is good!!! The pain is still very very bad. Dr is starting him on Bicalutamide. We meet with MO on the 25th. doe that sounds good I have not heard of this med before, But from what i have read so far it sounds good.

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