With my husband's recent PSA reading of 5 (down from 162 before we started chemo), it appears still to be working for him. Our MO plans to continue as long as it works and his body tolerates it. Other than being a couch potato and having digestive issues for one week out of three, he's doing okay. He just had his 9th treatment.
Which makes me curious - how many of you have done more than 10 treatments, and if so, how many more? Our oncologist has had people on Docetaxel for a year and a half. I'm wondering how long we might expect this treatment to be doable.
Thanks, guys and gals - I read these posts daily and pray for you often.
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Tinuriel
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I did six infusions, I was pretty worn down. They suggested 10 but My hemoglobin was down to 10.1. A friend of mine had ten and they stopped. I never heard of more than ten. But I am not a Dr, and I have only been around this for 3 years. I go by what I hear people say and what people have told me. Just my humble experience.
I became castration resistant in August 2023 after all the hormone treatments I had post seeds and radiation in 2018. My Oncologist said the same thing to me that Chemo was my new regimen. I just completed my 10th Docetaxel full dose session the other day and have three more scheduled. I asked him what was the most Chemo sessions he gave one of his patients. He said his record holder was doing Chemo for three years. So far I am tolerating Chemo fairly well with few symptoms other then fatigue and being loopy for a few days after treatment. I also needed three blood transfusions prior to a few treatments along the way to bring my hemoglobin up when it got close to 8. Having said all that I have the same question as you, is this long term Chemo treatment doable and considered standard procedure.
Additional info. My initial PSA was 20 and have seen close to zero several times with the various hormone treatments . The highest it has been since initial diagnosis was 8 just prior to starting Chemo in August. It has fluctuated up and down and my current PSA is 5 after 9 treatments. I find out in two weeks what the 10th treatment will show. I have about 12 bone mets at various spots and no soft tissue mets. I am fortunate to currently have zero pain from these Mets. Right now I am dealing with necrosis of the jaw from taking Xgeva for two years. I was in hospital for 8 days back in December and I am just getting over another flare up that I caught early a few weeks ago. The oral surgeon said that Xgeva causes more problems then what is commonly reported in his opinion. Let’s keep in touch with each other on this thread . Best of luck to you with this nightmare. I would like to hear from Tall Alan if he has any input on long term treatment with Chemo or anyone else that has done this.
TA comments are always welcome! Let's let's stay in touch. We're also still symptom free, but lots of bone mets and two soft tissue (lung, upper abdomen lymph node) which are smaller, but still there. But we haven't had the issues you have had with needing blood transfusions or jaw treatment. Courage and peace...
Hi Tinuriel , just had my 12th Chemo treatment today with several more scheduled. I seem to be tolerating it ok with the exception of hemoglobin hovering just above 8 and fatigue. My PSA is coming down but very slowly. After stoping Zytiga and starting Chemo my PSA was 8 and today’s reading was 4.67 from the 11th treatment . So feeling good today with all the steroids but Friday and Saturday when I am off of them that is lay in bed days and watch sports. Hopefully your husband is doing well. I will keep you updated as I go along with this treatment.
He's in "the valley of the shadow" 6 days post treatment #10. Just returned from seeing a doc and getting an X-ray for his chest congestion - it's been a constant companion for over a month, a bit worse at the moment. I'll update when we get the next PSA reading.
Keeping fingers crossed for you guys. Let’s pray it’s nothing but chest congestion. My wife has stage 4 breast cancer with one met to her Iliac bone. She had it radiated and has been on a drug called Ibrance for three years and no more spreading. She gets scans every six months that show no more spreading but they sometimes say congestion in lungs need closer look. She the follows up to get a more focal scan of lungs. They always come back negative. So lets hope your husband gets the same results.
I have stage 4 prostate cancer. My prostate (Gleason 9) was removed December 2015. Last Wednesday, started Docetaxel, so far so good. I'm scheduled for six infusions three weeks apart, PSA at start, 1.0.
Had 40 radiation radiation sessions in late 2018, and various immunotherapies since. Have been switching to new immunotherapies every 1.5 to 2.0 years to keep PSA in check.
I'm putting up a good fight and hope Docetaxel delivers another life extension victory. Good luck to all.
14 Docetaxel sessions here over the course of a little over a year. PSA went from 46 to 0.1. Typical side effects: some neuropathy, fatigue, weakness. Now on Lupron. My MO is big on beating down the cancer with as much Docetaxel as possible as long as you can tolerate it well. It was tolerable for me, but I don't want to do it again. I wish you the best.
Hi, I had 15 Taxoteres in 2015 - was supposed to be 6, MO told me that he'd give me more till PSA plateaued or I said to stop. PSA went from 840.2 down to 0.7 that year.
Six more to rechallenge as I failed Abiraterone, then Xtandi in 2020.
18 Cabazitaxels in 2021 to 2022. Fasted two days prior to each, SEs were minimal
It took 28 IMRTs a year ago to get PSA down to the current 1.3
Randy, you are an inspiration to so many of us here! My prayer is that we all experience the kinds of successes you've had. Thanks for posting! (there's got to be a song in your head about going the distance!)
My husband had 35 docetaxel treatments, 12 of them were after a nadir of 13.25 PSA. Then cabazitaxel until the MO got him into a 2 yr. Keytruda trial. The cabazitaxel wasn't having any beneficial effect. I retired at that point as he was so weak and confused and needed full time care.
I just read your bio - you've had a long but difficult road. Thank you for sharing with us your experiences, which are remarkable. Wishing you strength for the loving care you are providing.
Hi Tinurel, just had my 14 th Chemo yesterday. Prior reading of PSA was 4.21 which was down a little bit from # 12 treatment. So I have been coming down but very slowly. However yesterday I got the PSA reading from #13 and it went up to 4.36. Not a big move but it is concerning to me. I will see what ONCOLOGIST says . How is your husbands lung issue ? My wife was sent to lung specialist out of abundance of caution because one of the side effects of IBRANCE is lung issues. Everything was fine and she can stay on that drug.
No trace of lung issue in his most recent scan, the lit up places are much smaller. 10 treatments so far, taking 3 months off (or until his PSA which has dropped to 1.3 starts climbing with a quick doubling time). He's feeling really well atm. Take care!
Update : Had my 21st Chemo treatment yesterday. With the exception of low hemoglobin hovering between 8.4 and 9.0 lately all other blood numbers look ok. I actually am handling the side effects which are fatigue and lack ambition fairly well. I have gone back to practicing the piano for about 4 hours a day. Prior to that it would be about 1/2 a hour because I have very slight neuropathy in my hands which throws off your dexterity. I was disgusted and got up and walked away. I finally convinced myself to soldier on . My PSA went down to its lowest level while on chemo 3.92 after treatment 18 but on 19 it went back up to 4.37 but I got 20 news yesterday and it went down to 4.15. I have seen close to 0 PSA numbers from the other various Treatments I had prior. I started at PSA 8 before starting Chemo. I also had scans in early this September 24 that showed my 15 plus bone Mets have stayed the same size and no new Mets are there from exactly a year ago right before I started chemo. All my Mets are in my bones. I will be skipping my next chemo treatment in three weeks to have an operation on my aorta. I had operation to repair a aorta aneurysm three years ago but those recent cancer scans showed the repair is now leaking and the aneurysm is growing again. Fun Times
Thanks for the update, and I'm glad it's still working for you. Instead of going back to chemo just yet, he's moved on to Pluvicto which he is tolerating quite well, and his PSA has dropped dramatically after one dose. He will probably go back to chemo at some point, but the side effects for him made him miserable. Praying for you!
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Don't wanna add more names to the Memorial 
Tall_Allen -- How? How did you become so knowledgeable about PC?
update on husbands radiation to pelvic mets
How Many Types of PC ?
Boron and Fasting for the Prostate 
No lung mass!
