provenge

Hopeneverdies: >Like I told before Provenge is an approved FDA biological not because results rely totally on faith but because it has been proven scintifically to extend over all survival time in those who get it. Those who get it live longer than those who don't, some live years long.<

Your proselytizing for Provenge knows no bounds. You are essentially telling me that because I have been treated with Provenge that I *WILL*, under no uncertain terms, live longer. You should know that even the slick Provenge brochures that I have are not so strident. They say I *MAY* live longer. Somewhere else I read (wish I could dig it up) that Provenge works for about 80% of patients who get it, *NOT* 100%. Apparently there are no easy tests to see if the body is producing more of *X* or doing *Y* more as a result of Provenge infusion that would be an indicator of real and effective anti-cancer actions. So what I am saying is that any INDIVIDUAL cannot assess HIS OWN improved cancer-fighting ability after receiving Provenge. There is NO WAY to tell if the person is in the 80% for whom Provenge will have benefit, or the 20% for whom it will NOT. Bland "overall survival" stats might comfort some people, but what works for "Joe Blow" has no relevance to what works for me.

Going on Lupron, I got measurable RESULTS--my PSA went down. Going on Casodex got measurable RESULTS--my PSA went down. Going on radiation got measurable RESULTS---my tumor shrank and my PSA went down. Going on chemo got measurable RESULTS--my PSA went down and my bones hurt less. Going on Provenge....gave me NOTHING I nor any science-types could MEASURE as a result, and in fact only AFTER I got Provenged did my real troubles start (runaway tumor, bone mets, etc.)!! I wouldn't be so foolish to attribute my increased troubles to the Provenge, but I have just as much or more "proof" that the Provenge caused my troubles as you have that *MY* provenge is working to extend my life!

I don't want to make this an argumentative thread, so this will be my last such post. All I want to "emphasize" is that Provenge is a marvelous concept, but NOT benefit-proveable for any individual. I don't want people desperate for "cures" to think Provenge is a panacea for their affliction based on your gushing promotions.

Post Edited (sequoiaranger) : 11/1/2012 11:42:37 AM (GMT-6)

sequoiaranger...talk to your doctor about Xtandi. It doesn't require co-administration with prednisone.

Ted

Sundance2020,
Are you Ted Cohen?

Tony

I appreciate the heads up that the criteria for Provenge having a PSA greater than 5 may be wrong. I'll definitely talk that over with my doctor. She is confident she can get Zytiga and/or XTandi before Chemo, so getting Provenge with a low PSA may be do-able as well.

My next steps will be to get a blood test result on Dec 10 and then discuss the results. Perhaps the next step would be to resume the Casodex and this slight rise was just a "breakthrough."

Hi all: Just been thinking of all the different treatment planes I have be on in the last 7 years. None of them, after the return of cancer, has been a cure. Each one buys me some time till the next drug gets approved. I have never fired a doctor.   I just add one more Doctor to my army. No matter who does the posting on this site, they all add some information for my Prostate cancer fight. Some information is a lot of help and some you just let slide. I spend a lot of time inquiring about different treatment options that my fits my Prostate cancer. They all say Provenge is so expensive at $92,000.00 but if you check into this new one Xtandi it is $89,400.00 per year. Have a great Thanksgiving. 49PACKARD President Wheels for Prostate Cancer Research, Inc. Fighting PROSTATE CANCER     With PROVENGE www.WfPCR.org/

Hi guys,
When my Pca turned to HRPca and I.was faced with a PSA that was doubling every 8 weeks I was faced with a dilemma of sorts. (What to do next) I vert renowned Urologist said Provenge. As most of you know, my H.M.O. denied my the therapy and I was forced to fight for it. I won my appeal and my final infusion was on June 1 2012. Upon my completion I started casodex for the second time. My psa plunged from over 100 to 4.85.
Provenge does not have a psa benefit. My Doctor said it would continue to rise but would hopefully level off. I know it is the sasodex that dropped my psa but it was to be only a short term benefit. It has been 6 months now and I am still doing well.
Most important, I feel good. The side effects that other drugs cause are non existent with Provenge. I cut firewood hunt ski snowmobile water ski boat fish camp run 3 5k's a week kayak ride bicycles 30 miles a week hike.....you get the idea. Provenge does not work for everyone......Nothing does! Provenge is pricey.
My Psa should be going up. My hope is that the casodex lowered my psa and the provenge is keeping it there. My blood work is completely normal. I have no side effecs. Did I mention that I feel fantastic .
What is tomorrow worth. What is hope worth. Random thoughts. Todd

Todd,

Only 3 5Ks?  Just kidding...that is great....

Hey, do you continue to take the casodex?  And, just curious, do you get the alkaline phosphotate tested?

Thanks,

Jerry

More importantly --- what is the Elk status?

Hey living,
My dads pre-Provenge PSA was 10 and has gone to 117 shortly after the last Provenge infusion, psa tests were just over 3 months apart. It can happen. I don't "fish" but I can't speak for gillyg and wish him the best.
Matt

Hello Guys;
First I want to confirm the my PSA went from 6.7 on 8-20-2012
( a week before starting Provenge) to 55 on 11-12-2012 (a
month after my last Provenge infusion). It was 29.67 on Oct. 29
and increased to the 55 shown above in just two weeks. I am
not financially involved pro or con with Provenge and just want some
answers about what may have happened in my case. Denreon announced that they were closing the NJ facility on July 30 and laying off 41% of their staff. I am concerned that there may have been a lapse in QC with almost
half of Denreon employees facing unemployment and many management changes.
In addition to the PSA increases my bone scan and cat scan on 11-2-12 showed a tremendous increase in mets.
I will be starting Taxotere on 11-26-12 and hopefully will be able to change to Zytiga next year when my Part D insurance will pay 75%.
I am not sure if my BCBS Part D insurance will cover Xtandia as it is so new.
BCBS said it is under review.
I sincerely hope that Provenge will have some long term benefit and I repeat that I do not want to discourage anyone from trying it.

I am  "pro provenge" drug but anti-drug rep or investor who posts for a buck.  This or other prostate cancer forums should not be used to sell drug.

The moderators here are excellent and do a pretty good job of curtailing this practice.  Another site I used before finding this one, is dominated by Provenge investors.  In my experience as a pharmacist, I have never seen this degree of inappropriate marketing.

As prostate cancer patients, we need unbiased information.....not infomercials.

Paul

Merry Christmas to all:

FACT/MYTH

 

prostate cancer.

Myth: A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 4 ng/ml or less is normal and means that no prostate cancer is present.

Fact: There is no such thing as a "normal" PSA level. It's estimated that 15 to 20 percent of men with a total PSA level of 4 ng/ml or less actually have clinically significant prostate cancer. What a smart clinician will do is look at any changes in PSA velocity -- the rate of rise in PSA from year to year -- and use this critical figure to inform the patient about possible next steps.

Myth: An elevated PSA test indicates that prostate cancer is present.

Fact: Not necessarily. PSA levels increase when excess prostate specific antigen enters the bloodstream due to a prostate disorder. This could be a prostate infection from a urinary tract infection or prostatitis, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, an enlargement of the prostate that often occurs with age.

What the PSA test does better than any other assay we currently have is inform the doctor that some type of activity is occurring in the prostate. Before ordering a prostate biopsy to look for cancer, a savvy urologist will first rule out other prostate disorders and prescribe medication, if necessary, to treat a suspected medical issue. Following a repeat PSA test several weeks later, if PSA remains elevated, or has risen further, a biopsy will then be performed to check for possible cancer.

Myth: The prostate biopsy exam will cause cancer to spread if present.

Fact: A prostate biopsy is ordered when a urologist suspects -- based on the digital rectal examination, PSA and other tests -- that prostate cancer may be present. There is no evidence that piercing the prostate with the biopsy needles during the procedure will cause prostate cancer to spread.

Myth: A prostate biopsy exam will lead to erectile dysfunction.

Fact: After the gland is punctured a dozen times during the course of a prostate biopsy, there will be some swelling and inflammation. However, this swelling has no impact on erections. There will often be blood in the urine and semen for several weeks following biopsy, but this, too, has no effect on the ability to attain and maintain an erection.

President

Wheels for Prostate Cancer Research, Inc.

Fighting PROSTATE CANCER  With PROVENGE

www.WfPCR.org/