PSA down from 74 to 9.6 after one month of hormone therapy

Hi Tamhas, just a note to say i think your husband if lucky to have a wife so appears as supportive as you.  I myself have breast cancer and have joined this site to support my brother who has prostrate cancer .  good luck to you and your hubbiex

Hi Tamsin,

That's a great result Long may it continue. Prostap is very effective, my PSA came down from 19.1 to 0.2, although I had no spread.

How is hubby coping with the side effects? They say exercise helps, you can get a move more pack from macmillan.

Good luck,

Colin xxx

Hi Tamsin and welcome to mac community,

I’m Mal, (60)  I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, with secondary’s in lymph nodes in Feb.’10. I've been on hormone treatment (Triptorelin) since January ‘10. Things going well – so far.

 T3 N2M1 G9 ) PSA on diagnosis in Dec 09 was 1,100 , gleason 4+5=9 and PSA s dropped 55% per quarter and now 3

Hubby has done well with PSA drop. He is lucky to get onto stampede - but dont be concerned it is the standard treatment - he will get much closer attention from the medical teams than standard treatment. Side effects tend to really kick in up to six months after treatment commencement - just so you are ready.

Hi Rochelle, very sorry to hear that both you and your brother are enduring this. How are both your treatments going? x

Hi Colin,

Great news re your PSA level. He hasn't had any side effects as yet but only had his second hormone injection on the 28th June so expecting him to have some side effects and feel tired etc in a few months once the treatment really kicks in. We have been walking most evenings, usually in a coat or with an umbrella as of late! He really enjoys a leisurely cycle but last time we attempted it it was painful for him to sit on the saddle, although this was pre diagnosis. If we ever get any decent weather we will dust the bikes off and see how he feels. Thanks, I will get a move more pack.

Good luck

x

Hi Mal,

Thanks, his oncologist said much the same, that he will feel ok but then get more fatigued etc in a few months time. Very happy to hear that things continue to go well for you and encouraged that the initial hormone treament is still working for you. Have you been on it continuously since diagnosis or have you had a break? Meant to ask his oncologist about how the treatment affects the secondary mets if it has any effect, perhaps you can answer this for us?

Yes - naturally with an initial psa of 1,100 and gleason of 4+5=9 - i have advanced PCa - so no chance of a break of HT ( hormone treatment ) for me.

The secondary mets are still prostate cancer, so the HT will reduce them too in exactly the same way.

I have had 5 CT scans in 2 years - and each time this showed that the prostate had shrunk back to normal size and lymph nodes substantially reduced in size too. In my case the largest was about 55mm and that shrunk back down to 12mm so almost normal size.

I dont have bone mets - so my knowledge is based on 30 months of reading others that have -  the density of cancer in the bones showuld reduce too. He may be able to have some radio therapy to further shrink the bone tumours and/or control pain.

As hubby is on  the trial - as i said he has very much closer monitoring - so if i were you I would write all your questions down in a notebook - and ask the specialised nurse and onco' Make these nurse your friends - be very proactive and hubby should be reassured.

If you are good with spreadsheets - or even tables in Word etc - you can be like me and record everything in a spreadsheet so you can monitor progress!!!!.

Another hint - get the testosterone tested every 3 montrhs with psa - and also Alkaline Phosphate level as this indicates activity of the bone mets.

hope that helps - any more questions - just fire away - there are several regulars that post here

Hi,

Hi Roario

Zytiga is teh brand name for abiraterone and it is an excellent new drug just licenced and another hormone drug. For many men it works well and gives yet more time - and then opens up the door for yet more new drugs. Another new drug to look out for is MDV3100 which is like casodex but very much better and longer lasting. It is not out of trial yet - but should be available on a trial. Like casodex it is an anti-androgen - that is a drug that stops the remaining testosterone produced in the adrenal gland  from reaching the cancer cells .

Mal

Hi roario, abiraterone (Zytiga) is good, only approved for use on the NHS last month and is used  when prostate cancer has become resistant to other hormone therapy treatments and chemotherapy. It blocks androgen production from 3 sources, the testes, the adrenal glands and the tumour itself. It has been proven to extend lives and quality of life with less pain. The drug trial for MDV3100 is called PREVAIL but may be fully enrolled now. If your dad has had chemotherapy however, he won't be eligible.