Sad & Scared

[JolleySprings]

My husband began Docetaxel in July. At the time he PSA was 47. After treatments began his PSA progression was 47—32—18 We were so encouraged. After his 3rd Infusion today, his PSA went up to 19.2

I know it is only slight but yet not going downward.

Does this mean he has potentially reached nadir with this treatment? 😩

He had the CDK12 mutation. Not sure anything works with this?

Thank you all for any responses!

[God_Loves_Me]

may be dr refer you for clinical trials

[StayingOptimistic]

how long the time between the 18 and the 19 psa test results. I think they are the same number

[JolleySprings in reply to StayingOptimistic]

3 weeks

He has the chemo infusion every 3 weeks. He is scheduled for 6 infusions.

This CDK12 mutation is pretty much an impossible nut to crack.

We are in year 7 and NOTHING has worked stoped it for over 6 months. The “c” soon becomes resistant to any treatment.

See bio.

Thank you for your response!

[Tall_Allen]

Consider these clinical trials:

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NC...

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NC...

classic.clinicaltrials.gov/...

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NC...

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NC...

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NC...

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NC...

[JolleySprings in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you! Dr. Aggarwal wants a scan before we decide next steps. He says treat by scan not PSA… 🤷‍♀️ We are in our 7th year. Sad the Docetaxel stopped working bc he is tolerating it better than the other ADT drugs he has taken.

[Mrtroxely]

You started chemo, try complete it as you already made that decision.

Then after few weeks or months, that will be the PSA results you will need to consider.

PSA results can go up n down, as well as the fear.

We are agrivating them little cancers and trying kill them.....they are at War and the PSA readings may just be showing the war scores midway????

[Splash1953]

Hi Jolly, I just completed my 18th Chemo treatment with more scheduled. Along the way I had a few bumps up on PSA but the overall trend has been downward. The upward bumps were small . When I started the PSA was 8 last one was 3.91. My doctor wasn’t to concerned with the upward bumps when the results came in, but of course I was. I too have had all the treatments that worked for awhile until they didn’t. I just had a bunch of scans after a year and of the 15 plus spreads to the bones I have no new growth s and no change in size from the year ago scan. I asked the MOvhow much longer do I continue with the Chemo and he said that he had a patient on it for three years. We are talking full dose Doxcetel every three weeks. My blood work shows I am handling it okay with the exception of my Hemoglobin. That number is hovering about 8.6 . So continue on and hopefully the downward trend will continue.

[CharlieBC in reply to Splash1953]

Splash, I am at the point where my MO is recommending Docetaxel. Since I have the double whammy of prostate cancer and neuroendocrine cancer, I need to fight on two fronts. Since my PSA doubling time is every few weeks, I see the need for chemo (taxotere) for the prostate cancer. But it will not effect the more aggressive neuroendocrine cancer. How are you handling the side effects? I don't want to be sick for the foreseeable future (rest of my life, that doesn't extend my life) just to work on the prostate cancer. Thanks, Charlie

[JolleySprings in reply to Splash1953]

Do you harbor any difficult mutations??

[Splash1953 in reply to JolleySprings]

I had a gene test in 2022. They tested 14 relevant genes and they said no reportable alterations in any of them. So I guess that is a good thing.

[JolleySprings in reply to Splash1953]

Yes!!!! Yes!!!!! Congratulations!!

[Splash1953]

Hi Charlie, the first few sessions of Chemo were a learning curve for me. They load you up with steroids the day before,the day of and the day after. In my case the second , third and fourth day are the tough ones. My side effects were balance from moving to fast and not taking things a lot slower. I fell down a few times and banged my head. My wife bought me a bicycle helmet which I wore whenever I moved around. Other side effects believe it or not was that for me Chemo lowered my blood pressure. My GP lowered my BP medication and that helped with the balance issue also. Other side effects were constipation . I was taking a combination of over the counter stuff and then two days later it was like Niagra Falls all day. Now I drink a glass of Prune juice with a packet of Miralax when I get back from Chemo and just be patient. I also have a little Nueropothy in my feet and that slowly gets better before the next treatment. So it is a learning curve and taking things slow and easy is the way to go. It is really just those three days that I walk around feeling a little drunk.

[CharlieBC in reply to Splash1953]

Thank you. Don't think of it as a bicycle helmet. I prefer a "William Holden Drinking helmet".

[Splash1953 in reply to CharlieBC]

LOL