Update after 6 and a half years of treatment with triptolerin (Decapeptyl)

[nereabg]

My dad has been on biannual Decapeptyl injections since october 2017, when he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. The PSA readings over the last 6 years have been the following:

0.21 (January 2018)

0.07 (May 2018)

0.05 (November 2018)

0.04 (May 2019)

0.03 (October 2019)

0.03 (May 2020)

0.04 (January 2021)

0.04 (September 2021)

0.03 (May 2022)

0.04 (January 2023)

0.04 (May 2023)

0.05 (October 2023)

0.06 (March 2024)

He is currently 87 years old. The oncologist has considered that the blood tests are fine and that the latest increase is (only) 0.01. The next appointment with the oncologist is scheduled for November 2024.

My doubt is that there have been 3 rises from the nadir (0.03) and that the nadir has doubled.

My dad´s general state of health is reasonably good given his advanced age, except for mobility problems.

Should I be worried or rather happy with the results obtained to date?

Thanks in advance,

[MyDad76]

I think you should be thrilled.

[nereabg in reply to MyDad76]

Thank you😉

[Tall_Allen]

There is nothing to do unless PSA reaches 2.0.

[nereabg in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you very much for answering. It makes me feel better 😉.

[j-o-h-n]

We are both 1936 babies.......My advice is to celebrate...... but watch out for his balance/walking/falling and for women. Give him my "depression and wartime" regards....

Good luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[nereabg in reply to j-o-h-n]

yes you are both 1936 babies, he was born on December 31, 1936, the last day of the year. He has been walking with a cane for a few years now and he walks slower and slower. As for women, I think he prefers to watch sports on TV now 😅. He doesn't know the effectiveness of hormone therapy can have an expiration date, I have never told him. Now he is "the kid." A 1936 kid. Thanks for the regards 😉

[j-o-h-n in reply to nereabg]

10/06/1936 for me.... and since I'm older he has to show me respect. I think we would have a great time B.S. ing Take care....

youtube.com/watch?v=JzqGZjF...(Not working as expected?)

Good luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[nereabg in reply to j-o-h-n]

😂😂

Nice song,. Take care..

[dhccpa]

He's only had triptorelin? No second level hormone drug? Chemo? Radiation?

[nereabg in reply to dhccpa]

The only treatment since October 2017 has been triptolerin injections, no second level hormone drug.. yet. Chemo was advised against by the oncologist 6 years ago given his advanced age.

He underwent a brachytherapy procedure (low dose radiation) in April 2015 that was ineffective - the PSA only dropped to 1.27 - probably because he already had micrometastases, although the CT scan did not detect it on January 2015. This is what the oncologist told us 2 years later, in October 2017, when the tests (CT scan and MRI test) confirmed bone and lymph node metastasis (one bone involvement and one lymph node).

At the time I never thought he would still be reasonably well 6 years later. He's a tough person, he was infected with Covid and get through it better than I did when I was infected (both vaccinated up to 4 times) 😅. He complains because his physical faculties are increasingly diminished, but I tell him that he is going to turn 88...

[dhccpa in reply to nereabg]

Thanks