WinterSoleman- the combo 3 you mentioned they all work differently on PCa, a different pathway or mechanisms at work. Zytiga (abiraterone) targets an enzyme called CYP17 and so does Ketoconazole and the they suggest using prednisone (steriod) along with it. Keto was discovered in like 1980's era in Canada, it is an anti-fungal drug and not intended for PCa use originally, some doc found out on a patient that it worked well in controlling PCa and psa levels, later it became put into use, is that bizarre or what? MDV3100 has been called super casodex the co-inventor Dr. Sawyers mentioned in a blog thing, that it binds way better to the AR( androgen receptor), much better than casodex and therefore patients should/would have longer control in using such and the side effects should be similar to those of casodex, maybe some others will be noted in using it. It sounds like one of the better new drugs.
In the 1940's Huggins and Hodges found the estrogen drug DES and it effected or halted PCa and some patients even appeared cured (this is way before the psa era evolution). This drug is still in use and can be highly effective in controlling PCa, it has been poohed on because back in the 40'-60's some patients got blood clots on it and even died.....of course the lesson learned the hard way was they over prescribed the amount to use (5 mg?), did not screen high blood clotting patients and did not use aspirin or blood thinners (warfarin, aka called coumadin). Journal of Urology article Nov 2003, found DES 1-mg safe in patients and even effective on hrpca and when casodex or lupron had failed, which I know to be the case, as I failed ADT3 control back in 2004 era and have like 7-8 yrs. coverage on DES with no issues or side effects to complain about
, except occassional tender nipples (semi rare happening too). Now back in the old days DES was patented too, it went off patent in the USA the same year that Lupron hit the sales department stores (LOL). You can use this and it is blanking cheap in the cancer world of choices, estradiol patches are very similar concept to use (cost alot more), these by pass your liver and appear even safer against clots or dvt's. Dr. Fred Lee into year 31+ with incurable PCa, used emcyt another estrogenic drug in his fight and one of the longer living incureables. There are other drugs too, some you may not hear about
much, but might be useful in ones PCa fight. I could ramble on about
this stuff, when you enter the incureable world and recognize it well, you are usually receptive to atleast looking at things, especially if someone has actual results in so doing and then find that duplicated in another patient, thus meaning it has possible usefulness. Its your fight and your journey to confront, I have seen some magnificent "WARRIORS" (sorry Mel to use that) whom studied and did many protocols and shared all that information on our PCa super highway, aka your PCa pioneers (warriors):
Harry Pinchot, Robert Young, Aubrey Pilgrim, Bill Aishman, Howard Hansen....I know I am missing some others, if you knew their stories, contributions and efforts to help others you would be on your knees in salute to them. These are some on my heros and they fought this like you wouldn't believe, Howard even had PCa move to his brain and had it treated twice, his was a 17 yr. all out war and he started the website www.hrpca.org We are all part of on going 'trial' and fight on PCa, all adding information and experiences into the database, so in effect we are all part of PCa history and legacy. (-: His son and relatives, wife are part of
www.hrpca.org an ongoing tribute to fighting PCa, do visit their site or sign up for their email and patient replies thing, very interesting stuff.
Post Edited (zufus) : 2/15/2012 2:15:06 PM (GMT-7)