Enzalutamide reduced dose

Hi Jes

I have been taking enzalutamide for 2 years now.  I have found the fatigue quite hard and in Oct, on advice, I reduced my dose to from 160 to 120mg to see if it would help.  The good news is that it hasn't had an impact on my PSA, still <0.1 (that was my greatest worry), however I am not sure if it has had much impact on my levels of fatigue. On the basis that it hasn't impacted my PSA I have remained on the 120 dose.

These hormone drugs seem to impact everyone slightly differently, so I would suggest your brother gives it a go.  The fatigue can be quite debilitating, I reduce my working to 4 days because of it, so I know what he is going through.  

All the best Steve

Hi Jes

1. I've been on enzutomide tablets for 2 years,  after 18 months they asked me if I wanted to go down to 3 tablets from 4 the reason for a better quality of life, in them 18 months my psa was 0.007 so in January I decided to go for it, the next blood test however my psa rose to 0.034, the oncologist wasn't to concerned but I was so I went back up to 4. Had another blood test in March psa back to 0.0.007, it could of been a blip I don't know but going back to 4 has eased my mind 

Thank you for the reply.... its such a worry when you leave a consultation not knowing what is the best thing to do.  They will monitor in 6 weeks, bloods and suggested a scan so I guess its worth a try. 

I wish you all the very best of luck .... and thanks again x

I agree - they monitored me at 6 weeks too which I  found quite a reassurance.  I hope it helps with your side-effects and best of luck for the future.

Steve

That is excellent. I still have a prostate and have been on Enzalutamide for 16 months. After lowest PSA of 0.03 it has slowly started to rise and is now 1.0. I will probably have ct and bone scans if and when it reaches 2-4, and will likely be taken off the Enzalutamide.

Thanks again x

Hi Richard 

Sorry to hear your psa has started to rise , like you I've been told by my oncologist when it starts to rise the enzalutamide has stopped working so next step for me is chemo and radiotherapy,  I'm hoping to be on these tablets a little bit longer. But on a positive note my oncologist said there's more treatments out there. Hoping your psa is a slow riser and the treatment you receive keeps everything in check, stay safe. 

Hi, many thanks for your reply. Although chemo would be the normal next step, at my age 81 this year, I'm not sure sure I could cope with the side effects and I know my oncologist is of the same mind. Radiotherapy is not an option. I am stage T4 with 3 nodules in my right lung, and a nearby lymph node affected. I did have 39 sessions of radiotherapy back in 2015 on the prostate and pelvis when I was first diagnosed with PC. I was then stage T3B. My oncologist has said I may be able to have low dose Dexamethasone which can slow down the PC.

I have just read your profile that you are stage 4. Am surprised about the possibility of you having radiotherapy. Guess it would be for easing the bone pain rather than providing a cure.

My oh psa is still rising on enzalutamide but because scans show stable he's getting kept on them 

Yes your right my cancer is incurable and the oncologist did say the radiotherapy will be used on bone pain. Hoping your next treatment prolongs your life and stay positive.