Anyone else on abiraterone (zytiga)?

Also see this link for a Zytiga experience. David is a great friend that has been riding metastatic PCa for 7 years now. He has been on Zytiga twice. The second time he saw a 1000 point drop on his PSA.

prostatecancerat42.blogspot.com

@Harold3rd,
Thank you for joining. Your story is quite the story on dealing with metastatic disease. I have seen many benefit from the use of Zytiga but that's seeming a PSA game. Zytiga was shown scientifically to extend life. But by what parameters did these men live longer I do not know for sure. But I do trust studies and there are new studies being done to determine a best time to start Zytiga. Before chemo is seemingly best but in Davi's story above it was after chemo and seemingly effective both times.

Tony

Bump

Will really appreciate updates from people and anyone with new experiences.

Per my signature you can see the Zytiga is doing its thing - I'm hoping it will continue to do it for a loooong time!

Hugs to all

Bud

We will beat this crap!

I am likely soon-to-be on Zytiga. I got my 8th Taxotere infusion today. My PSA went *UP* a tiny bit last time. I am sticking with Taxotere for ONE more infusion (today's), will get a PSA test next week. If my numbers go back down I will endure more Taxotere; if not, Zytiga here we come (*MAYBE* Xstandi).

Raddad--good for you! I feel a little "wimpy" whining about a PSA "jump" to 17 when others have three-digit numbers, etc., but my numbers have always been low even with MASSIVE bone met spread, so even "17" is high for me. I was taken off Lupron/Casodex several months ago when I started chemo. Wonder if Zytiga works better with the other luprolides to keep the lid on testosterone production, or if Zytiga does the trick all by itself (interfering with cellular absporption as well as restricting adrenal-gland production). I guess I will find out!

I have been on zytiga since Jan. 2012. My psa had been doubling last fall. It ended up at 23 when I started on the zytiga. The first psa test six weeks in was 17. Next test six weeks later was 5.5. Next test six weeks 2.7. Next test six weeks 1.5. Last test was 1.2. I have had not much in the way of side effects. The biggest that I have is the hot flashes are very hot. I do sweat quite a bit. I think my bone pain is down a bit also. It is working for me according to the tests. Kent

My husband started Zytiga almost a month ago (with the usual chaser of prednisone).  He isn't really dealing with side effects at this point.  I was worried about Zytiga because I'd read it can really mess with your moods and he was alredy prety wobbly emotionally, but I'd say if anything, he's feeling better emotionally and physically than before the Zytiga.

zaqwerty

See my signature - the PSA raise we think may have been attributed to Rifampin that I was taking for my TB (dx'ed 31 Aug). After the raise I went back and questioned my medical team and it was decided the Rifampin had to go.

I'm still on Zytiga (and pred) - hoping my next PSA will go down again.

Hugs

Bud

We will beat this crap

zaqwerty

Sorry to hear about the pain your Dad is going through. Have you spoken to his Docs about that?

Looking at www.zytiga.com/about_zytiga/side_effects.php
The most common side effects of ZYTIGA® include:

Joint swelling or discomfort
Muscle aches

Taking prednisone with ZYTIGA® may help to reduce the incidence and severity of some of the potential side effects of the medication.

He is talking the prednisone twice a day correct? I find if I miss a dose I can tell as I feel 'off'.

My PSA went up to 66, but the thought is that could be due to to the TB Meds. My Medical team increased my Zytiga dosage to 1250mg - 5 tabs - a day.

Hugs

Bud

We will beat this crap

Hello sequoiarenger,
Hello Bud,
Of course we take Zytiga with prednisone but...I think the side effects are different person to person.
My father started with Zytiga on 14.10.2012 and I hope PSA will continue to going down ( after 1 month we had a slow decrease ) , but the pain on muscles and joins is so violent and until now I didn't find a drug for this pain, all medication for that has no effect... I don't know...We started with Salvestrols as well and next evaluation ( PSA, testosteron, etc ) will be on 17.12.2012. We'll see, but this pain...we hoped zytiga will be fine but I think it depends on each person.
All the best !
Zaq

Hello PeeEss,
Hello everybody !
I've been on Zytiga for 3 months and the results are not ok : starting on 13.10.2012 : PSA=206, than
22.10.2012 PSA=254
14.11.2012 PSA=246
17.12.2012 PSA=308 and
today 15.01.2013 PSA=389.
In meantime the pain is more and more violent on bones and that's very very bad ! I think we must change something but I don't know how...I think Zytiga is not good for everybody.
Did someone know about Daniel Goldstone's book and recipe ("I Beat Cancer Holistically: Protocols for Breast, Colon, Lung and Prostate Cancer") ?
All the best,
Zaq

Hi Bud,
No, until now no drug seems to stop the pain...and we try other and other...
What you gonna do, you'll continue with Zytiga ? ( I see the psa rising )
Zaq

Bud,
We'll do some detailed investigation these days and we'll decide what to do next, probably taxotere as well.
Keep in touch !
All the best !
Zaq

Zaq

Sorry to hear about the cancer spread. On Taxotere - generally called chemo which I think does it a dis-service. A dis-service in that we have (least I had) notions of how hard chemo can be on the body. Now they cover just about everything with the various drugs that are part of the treatment plan and its really very tolerable.
See my link above for where I am so far.

I found this just within the last two days - very informative and puts one's mind at ease.

[url]http://www.pcf.org/site/c.leJRIROrEpH/b.5836637/k.D89F/Side_Effects_of_Chemotherapy.htm[\url]

Hugs

Bud

We will beat this crap