Does Procrit fuel cancer?: My husband... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Does Procrit fuel cancer?

HOPEFULSPOUSE profile image
22 Replies

My husband gets occasional Procrit injections to keep his hemoglobin from getting too low. But am starting to hear that this may not be the best route. Would love your feedback.

UPDATE:

His DR has said that he will pull back on the frequency of Procrit . . . due to these concerns.

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HOPEFULSPOUSE profile image
HOPEFULSPOUSE
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22 Replies
Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen

Where did you hear that?

HOPEFULSPOUSE profile image
HOPEFULSPOUSE in reply toTall_Allen

I haven't had the chance to research this yet but at the onco this a.m. I overheard someone say they didn't want another Procrit shot, they were going to opt to let their hemoglobin drop enough to be at the threshold for a blood transfusion because they had heard this. Wasn't comfortable asking them for a proof source and the DR at that point wasn't available - but figured we should research just in case.

Have you heard this?

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toHOPEFULSPOUSE

You have to be careful about studies of association between Procrit and PC mortality. Men who get Procrit often do so because the cancer has moved into the bone marrow or because of bone marrow damage from Chemo or radiation. So more advanced cases are more likely to get the therapy. In that case, it is associated with mortality, but does not cause mortality.

HOPEFULSPOUSE profile image
HOPEFULSPOUSE in reply toTall_Allen

Thank you

Actually the words they used were "it makes tumors more aggressive"

We have an email out to the onco

sgrama profile image
sgrama in reply toTall_Allen

I also read something like that on the Procrit website.

Here is exactly what it says.

For people with cancer:

Your tumor may grow faster and you may die sooner if you choose to take PROCRIT®. Your healthcare provider will talk with you about these risks.

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply tosgrama

Misunderstanding of cause and effect.

sgrama profile image
sgrama in reply toTall_Allen

What does that mean exactly?

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply tosgrama

As I wrote: "more advanced cases are more likely to get the therapy. In that case, it is associated with mortality, but does not cause mortality."

NPfisherman profile image
NPfisherman

Here is some information on the matter:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

researchgate.net/publicatio...

It seems that it blocks apoptosis from serum starvation per the information I found but does not cause proliferation. Limited studies on the matter.

Don Pescado

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toNPfisherman

Apoptosis is unfortunately rare in metastases anyway.

NPfisherman profile image
NPfisherman in reply toTall_Allen

After looking at information, I could not find a reason to not use it. Of course, one should also be sure they have adequate iron and folate, B12, and VitaminC, although Vitamin C is rarely an issue....

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

People with significant anemia are at risk for CV events and falls. I guess people weigh the pros and cons and decide...

Don Pescado

HOPEFULSPOUSE profile image
HOPEFULSPOUSE in reply toNPfisherman

Thanks for these links.

Blocking apoptosis is not good!

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toHOPEFULSPOUSE

Apoptosis rarely happens in cancer anyway - the cells are immortal. Having non-apoptotic cells is a hallmark of cancer.

in reply toTall_Allen

You might to research this topic a little more. I certainly disagree.

Gourd Dancer

NPfisherman profile image
NPfisherman in reply toHOPEFULSPOUSE

You must weigh the pros and cons and decide. Significant anemia increases risk for heart failure:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/155...

heart attacks and arrythmias

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

All I am saying is weigh your choices. What do I know?? Best of luck to you...

Don Pescado

HOPEFULSPOUSE profile image
HOPEFULSPOUSE in reply toNPfisherman

Thank you - yes this is a tough one!

tango65 profile image
tango65 in reply toHOPEFULSPOUSE

It seems that short term use is not associated with adverse events on the biology of PC.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

NPfisherman profile image
NPfisherman in reply totango65

My thoughts, if it effects the QOL, then one should take epogen injections....my anemia is mild and not where it limits me much...it seems to take longer for recovery post exercise....not uncommon for older folks.....

Fish

HOPEFULSPOUSE profile image
HOPEFULSPOUSE in reply totango65

Thank you for this link!

tango65 profile image
tango65 in reply toHOPEFULSPOUSE

Best of luck

HOPEFULSPOUSE profile image
HOPEFULSPOUSE in reply totango65

Thank you!

JimVanHorn profile image
JimVanHorn

The last year of my PCa therapy (2018) I used Procrit, because of kidney disease. My hemoglobin was 9.6 and then 9.4 and after several Procrit shots my hemoglobin was 10.6 to 11.3 . I have a test for anemia (hemoglobin) every 6 weeks and sometimes I need a shot and sometimes not. A shot is $63.00 with my health insurance, but I no longer feel tired all the time. I did not notice any changes in my PSA on Procrit and I am currently on "Active Surveillance" since I stopped my cancer therapy. On Procrit it is important to not have a hemoglobin level of over 3.6 due to possible strokes.

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