Hubby as you know is on Firmagon too, He had his first two initial doses 17th December then his single dose 17th January, obviously next one February. He starts his chemo tomorrow. The firmagon brought his psa down in 5 weeks from 597 to 7.95, hoping it's even lower now.
Still not 100% sure why they are giving him chemo along with the firmagon, if the firmagon is bringing down his psa levels?
Yes much better thanks although this one hit me hard. Firmagon will bring your husband's testosterone levels right down and I'm told is particularly effective with spine mets and stopping the spread of cancer. After that I was told there was a choice between chemo and Enzalutamide but they opted for Enzalutamide as it is kinder. Obviously we're all different so your husband's diagnosis would have influenced the treatment alongside Firmagon. Firmagon alone will not get PSA down to very low levels so it needs to be combined with another treatment.
I have a follow up with the oncologist next week so it will be interesting to get his opinion on progress. Also as you learn more about this dreadful disease, your questions develop and change.
First question as I understand it is that Firmagon alone will not bring his PSA down to those levels.
The second question sounds like something for your Oncologist to answer or you could try ringing the Macmillan nurse. I think it's best for you to get the answer directly from the team that are looking after your husband.
What I do know is that the choice is probably Chemo or Enzalutamide. The latter seems to work well with Firmagon but I don't know for how long
Septimus, think I have explained before (although it's only my understanding) is that the prostate produces 90% of testosterone and Firmagon (a wonder drug in my opinion) attacks that and can stop it completely (it did with me), but that the Adrenal glands produce the other 10% and a different treatment is required to attack that 10%.
In my case I have had 3 months of Firmagon (so 4 injections) and 1 month of Enzalutamide tablets (to stop the adrenal glands producing testosterone) and am down from 215 - 3.8 - 1.4 - 0.2
Firmagon got me down to 1.4 and then doubled with the Enza got me down to 0.2 currently.
