How did you get started BAT and what would you suggest to someone looking to try this threapy

[Apd66]

check my bio for history. I’m getting close to the “why not” try. My MO is hesitant, wants to go another round of Pluvicto (I was successfully treated about a year ago) oranother round of Chemotherapy. Although I do not think he is wrong, my opinion is these therapies would still be available should the BAT fail. There are some trials that combine therapies with BAT, that I would also entertain. I just don’t know how to get started. Just had a new Guardiant blood test and awaiting approval for a fresh PSMA PET. Figured anywhere I start would be needing newest information. My thought was to treat a few painful spots with SBRT, then start the BAT. Maybe someone has already done this or knows of a trial that would include both. My current treatment utilizing PARP inhibitor Lynparza is failing.

I’ve seen here that most went through Dr. Denmeade at John’s Hopkins. Is this the most popular way? How does one initiate this process?

[Tall_Allen]

Many men (about ⅓) seem to get much worse on BAT. It is not a "Hail Mary" play -- it is potentially very dangerous. Johns Hopkins may have created a test to find out if it may work. You should not do it outside of a clinical trial. And it has never been done in trials in men who have had bone pain -- you would not be accepted into a trial.

[Apd66 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Do you feel bone pain is limiting for any BAT trial?

[Tall_Allen in reply to Apd66]

All BAT trials that I am aware of exclude patients that have had bone pain or any other metastatic symptoms.

[j-o-h-n]

Do a search of our H.U. History file (see top left of screen) for tons of information/posts regarding "experiences with Olaparib".

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[MateoBeach]

It is very easy to do a test run of BAT to see if you are a favorable responder, or not. It just involves getting a 400 mg shot of testosterone cypionate every 28 days for 2-3 cycles and following PSA levels especially at the end of the cycles. A video consult with Dr. Denmeade would be good to put you and your MO at ease. This is very inexpensive so you don’t really need a formal trial to test it

[Apd66 in reply to MateoBeach]

Have you participated yourself? Tall Allan’s remarks about exclusion maybe takes this off the table. I have had bone pain since DX. It was what drove me to the hospital wondering what was wrong. My options are growing fewer within SOC. I’m trying to hang on enough to get in on immunotherapy trials, preferably p2 or p3. Im in Florida

[MateoBeach]

I have been on BAT for over 4 years and it works extremely well for me. PSA undetectable for past three years. Bone pain is not a compete contraindication, depends on where and how severe as it can flare up when starting BAT. Worth having Denmeade review your case.

[RoseDoc]

BAT is, potentially, very dangerous. I would do it under the guise of someone who is very experienced in this. Dr. Denmeade at Hopkins seems to be the one with the most expertise in this treatment. How do you start the process? Give his office a call, send any records they may want, make the appointment for a consult.

[Professorgary in reply to RoseDoc]

Apd66 lives in Florida so he will not be able to consult with Denmeade unless he travels to Baltimore. Denmeade will do video visits after a face to face if you live in a state he is licensed in. Denmeade would most likely do a video consult with a doctor willing to administer BAT.

[Hunterfugi1]

There are many viewers of this site that have benefited from one form of BAT or another. There is a bit of a bad vibe given off by some hear, so many who are benefiting are reluctant to express their successes.

[Professorgary]

I have had a visit with Denmeade and yes they prefer patients who are symptom free. This includes pain as well as urinary problems. After an hour discussing my case and his opinions on my case I have come to the conclusion that his only interest is to help the patient. While I probably wouldn’t attempt bat on my own I do have an excellent uro who still teaches at JHMU one day a week and personally knows Denmeade. I feel comfortable doing BAT under my Uros care if I choose not to make the drive to Baltimore. The thing about clinical trials is you can’t pick which arm you get. As far as BAT being dangerous, maybe some guys who have done it and had an experience where the cancer becomes more aggressive could chime in. So far I haven’t read much negative about BAT and even if the Psa doesn’t come down it can resensitize the cancer to Abi or Xtandi. God bless.

[Apd66]

I am completely aware of the risks involved with this and any treatment. I see as many with positive results as with negative in the research i find (I am not a doctor nor an epidemiologist). In the clinic I go to with the MO I see he has had a 40% positive results. Pain is manageable usually, at least so far. I have experienced pain from this scourge for 5 years now. I see other therapies in the pipeline. Maybe I live long enough to experience something with a better than 30% success rate as this seems to be the average success rate with everything. I did 6 rounds of pluvicto when it was just approved. 30% were successful in our clinic, 30% had some improvement and 30% were not successful at all. That’s cancer treatment I find. I want to get to a point that immunotherapy may be a treatment. I was unsuccessful with Ketruda. So far, it was the only treatment that did not work at all on me. All others had some success, be it short lived on some. If there are others here that would be more comfortable sharing their experiences in a private message, I would welcome that and appreciate as well. I am not ready to give up yet. I have tried most treatments. This seems like one that everyone should try. The downside is steep, agreed, But getting years of viability as some of you have described should be considered. With the numbers of men trying this treatment, trends should be forming with success rates and probabilities.

The fight to live on is a struggle. I continue. A second round of Pluvicto, chemotherapy, or BAT trial, or some other trial seem to be my choices. I see the same risks, maybe more toxicity in the chemo and pluvicto. There is no singular right choice.