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Advanced Prostate Cancer and ANEMIA

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Posted 6/20/2011 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, My husband had his prostate removed in Jan. 2000. His PSA had risen right after the surgery and continued to rise throughout the years, until last year. Last year it went down a couple of points. He had a small part of his bladder removed during the surgery because it was in the margins. His last PSA was around 6. The Dr. says he believes it metastasized and has had anemia for the last 3 1/2 yrs. He has been on Zolodex injections since 2000 and is still taking them. Now he is developing some newer symptoms, but am not sure if they are from prostate cancer. His gleason score in the beginning was 3+4. It did not spread to the lymph nodes or bone then. His PSA before surgery was 45. Sorry, I am trying to give as much info as one may need to see if anyone on here has been through similar symptoms, etc. as my husband. My husband and I are Christians and have talked about this for many years and are grateful for honest answers. His Dr. told me on the side, after I asked what his opinion was as to how long he felt he would live and he "guessed" around 2 yrs. I know noone knows that answer..only God. But...I needed to ask so that I could plan for the future, since I do not work, etc. My question is, has anyone been at the advanced stage and had problems with anemia? My husband has been having frequent bouts of getting out of breath, dizzy spells and feels like he is going to faint. It is occurring more frequently now. He has had pain in his back for several years, but don't know if it arthritis or because of prostate cancer. Other symptoms are irregular and fast heart rate. Sorry ..but I don't know what else to add. Is anemia very dangerous? Thanks for any info...I don't know what to expect now. Thank you.
Posted 6/20/2011 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, sorry you have to be here, but welcome. There's not a lot of details in your post to help figure where he stand now. I would suggest that he consult with a good medical oncologist and get a complete workup so you, he and the doctor can know just where he is in the process. Mri's, psa stest, lots of thing to do. If he is under the care of a medical oncologist, rather than a urologist, then maybe consider having a sit down with that doctor, or seeking a second opinion for another oncologist. There's still lots can be done, but there's a lot of info missing right now, so he needs an updated full exam and some decisions made by a good oncologist, maybe a radiation oncologist as well. With the proper ADT drugs and a competent oncologist, he just might have years to go. But without some updated status, there's no way to know, nor no way to really plan the best course for his situation now. There's a bunch of advanced guys here, so they willl be psoting, probably with better info and detail, than I can. Keep us updated.
Posted 6/20/2011 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Coffeemugs,

Yes, anemia can be a big problem when a guy has prostate cancer.

If your husband is short of breath and has an irregular/fast heart rate, he should be taken to the nearest hospital as soon as possible.

It may/may not be related to his cancer but it's very dangerous to stay at home.

Wishing you the best and sending prayers.

Mary
Posted 6/20/2011 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Coffeemugs,
What you describe as symptoms in your husband are very possible with anemia. I am not very sure what his present PSA is from your message. Is 6 the current PSA? Anemia can be caused by low testosterone that is the male hormone that Zoladex inhibits. Has your husband’s testosterone level been measured lately? An elevated PSA with a castrate level of testosterone is an indication of androgen independence and if that is the case your husband might need other treatment such a secondary hormonal treatment, chemotherapy or a clinical trial.

If your present physician is not a medical oncologist, consult one as soon as possible. A remedy for anemia is an injection called Procrit. That would help with his symptoms caused by low hemoglobin.

It is difficult to predict how your husband will respond to further treatment. The 2-year life span is a classical answer when patients fail a therapy like Zoladex, but no one can tell what his response to treatment will be in the future. Stay positive, but seek a medical oncologist or a new one if you already are seeing one. Wish you and hubby the best possible outcome.

RalphV
Posted 6/21/2011 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Please let me reiterate:

IF SOMEONE IS SHORT OF BREATH, HAS A FAST/IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT AND IS FEELING FAINT, GET MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY!!

Mary
Posted 6/22/2011 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Mary for your post. His PSA was 6 around 5 mths ago. It had gone up to 10 before that and then came down. He will have another PSA drawn in July. I do not think he has ever had a testosterone level taken. I do not see it on his lab test results from the VA. He was given Casodex from his Urologist, but he would not take it. He is very stubborn. His Dr. also told him he is needing chemotherapy. My husband has refused radiation for many years and refuses to take chemo as well. So, he has been on Zolodex since 2000.

He refuses to go to the hospital and call his Dr. about his dizzy spells now. I am emailing his Urologist to let him know about it. My husband does not want to talk about his illness much. He has not been back to an oncologist for many years. Thanks for all of your input.

I am worried that he could have a heart attack from the symptoms he is having with his dizzy spells. He is now thinking it is from anxiety. He has not been tested for cancer to his bones in many years. Sorry, this is so scattered.

Cindy
Posted 6/22/2011 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Cindy,

In my days as a trained "first responder" in a business environment, I would have been required to sit him down, call 911, and have him taken to an ER if he had presented those symptoms while in my facility. Period.

Nobody wants to admit to being sick, and even less so as we get older. As much as I hate to admit it, I am also going to have to make some choices soon as to Hormone Therapies, and I wish I could just ignore it, but I can't. The alternatives are worse.

Ralph makes a good point - it is time for a sit-down and review everything with the doctor.

Posted 6/22/2011 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Cindy, I would share your concerns about a heart attack but I agree with 142, I would call 911 and take him to the hospital. Even against his will, if necessary.

I have looked up your previous posts about metastasized prostate cancer, as my husband has that also.

If you check out my posts about Willie, you'll see what we've been up against and how it's working/or not.

Willie had surgery, radiation, hormone therapy and finally chemo. which has been suspended due to a lung problem.

I will be calling his doc tomorrow actually, to get his chemo back up and running asap as the lung problem isn't as serious as previously thought.

It's said that chemo doesn't work well for Prostate Cancer but in my husbands' case, it's the only thing that has worked and worked well.

He's gone from being bed ridden and losing over 50 pounds, to walking a couple of miles daily and eating like a normal, healthy fellow.

Life isn't perfect and will never go back to 'normal' but we're just glad that we're still truckin' along!

If you have any questions, please feel free to post and I'll do my best to help you out.

Your husband sounds like quite the fighter, even if he's doing it his own way. Willie believes in doing it his way too! lol

Mary
Posted 6/30/2011 6:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I am a new member. My husband was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in late April 2011. It came as an absolute shock, as we had several contraindications; several tests that indicated chronic prostatitis, and other misunderstood or missed diagnosis.

By the time that he had fractured his 3rd vertabrae (C4)  a hip biopsy was finally done to determine why all this was happening. After his neck was stabilized, he received 5 consecutive treatments of radiation for the tumors on his spine, at L3, T5 and C4. He also began hormone therapy (Casodex), Luprone injections and recently had his first Zometa injection.  His PSA was at 2500 when he first saw the oncologist, but was down to 33 by his first Zometa injection. The oncologist was pleased that the HT is, at this time, effective.

We have had wonderful support from family and friends, with many people praying for us.
My concern is for the road ahead. I want to know more about what to expect with this disease (at least I think that I want to know). So far, he has been off work since April, with the C4 fracture and the PCa diagnosis. (he remains in a neck brace for 24/7 support and we await news from the spine doctors to asssess recent X-rays)  I am on leave from work as well, so that I can take care of him. My husband is experiencing fatigue, weakness in the legs and arms (from the fractures as well as the HT). He still makes me laugh, so there is nothing wrong with his "funny bone"! And he can still play his guitar, which he has several of. (he often quotes some famous musician, "One wife, many guitars.")

Anyways, just wanting to be in touch with others who have a similar journey. Up until this diagnosis, we have not had the challenges and issues that so many others have had to face. And so, here we are.

Audreyjoan

 

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