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New Journey - Taxotere - Updated 19 March - Done

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Posted 3/16/2013 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bud, through my readings I have found that very often during chemotherapy PSA increases as cells are dying. Then it drops. This is also true of radiation. Ask your doctor about it, perhaps it could explain the higher numbers. As they say...life is a beautiful struggle...hugs.
Posted 3/16/2013 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Bud, I miss your presence on healing well. Your report made my heart sink a little. You are always in my thoughts and in my prayers. I hope things get worked out soon. You will beat this crap. We will meet and we will dance at our granddaughters weddings. I have 5 so its going to be a lot of dancing. You give sooo much to this forum my friend. You must know you are loved. Hang tough Bud, your friend.... Todd
Posted 3/16/2013 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Todd thank you for your kind and moving words from the heart about our great brother Bud. Bud  has truly been the heart and soul of Healing Well since he joined almost 2 years ago. He has touched so many in this forum including myself. I like so many think this is just a minor setback and our Raddad will return and stay with us for a long time. As I told Bud a few months ago he will have to rent out Capital Arena for GiGi's wedding just to hold all of her HW Uncles waiting to have the second dance with her after Bud. I am one of the fortunate members in that next month I will have the privilege of sharing my 3rd GFMPH gathering with my most gooderest buddy, Bud. BTW Bud I will beat you to Baton Rouge.

Terry

Posted 3/17/2013 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
Bud,

Certainly not what I wanted to read...

Can't wait to give you a well deserved hug next month.

Until then, be well, my friend!
Posted 3/17/2013 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Bud -- I'm sorry to read this, but it will just be a blip. I like Special Lady's thought. Regardless, we knew this wasn't going to be easy, but fortunately you are made of some hellaciously strong stuff. You will beat this crap.

Hugs & hopes
Posted 3/18/2013 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Bud,
Well heck! I was hoping that you wouldn't have too many bumps or blips with your journey on chemo..hang in their and be ready for Baton Rouge to see all your friends..I still laugh when I recall how you castigated--not castrated--me for not including the women on this forum as "warriors" along with the men....Haven't been chewed out like that in years..All in good fun..
Remember, you are the heart and soul of this forum and along with some Viet vets are the primary reason I am still here...Please provide a full report of your trip meeting with your friends and eating "crawdaddies"..I worked for years with "cajun" drilling crews in the Texas panhandle and had a beer or 2 with them; however, after 2 beers they forgot how to talk in English and I don't know French--lol./..Great people.

Bill
Posted 3/18/2013 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hey now gunfighter after he castigated you for not including the lady warriors, you just did it again. I'm from the Vietnam Nam era and hubby in service than, but was in Korea during one of the crises - does that count :-). Just kidding and messing with you. You have been immensely supportive!
Posted 3/18/2013 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Radad...didn't like to read your update.....this disease always has it's "high" and low's" (PSA's). It's a see-saw effect....which is not good on the psych, really a mind-blowing effect. Keep us posted on the test results.....

To chinki....Zitiga or Xtandi...which one ...one is around $5500.00 the other is around $7600.00, this is per month and depending on your insurance coverage...it could be an "ouch" in your pocket-book. It was to us, until we meet our "out of pocket".

Passages and my husband are on Xtandi now and they both started in January. My husband had 8 sessions of taxotere (150 to 160 mg per session), scans, then on Xtandi. Strength started coming back energy levels returned (not to normal), but now (third month on Xtandi) fatigue levels returning as well as lose of strength, appetite somewhat suppressed. I think both drugs have the same effect....so whichever your doctor prescribes, just go with it and look for the positive....

Gunfighter......we are all "warriors" in this battle, some of us wear different armour....mine is shinny!
Posted 3/18/2013 10:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bud.
i am on my way to L.A this morning. I am being treated like a rock star. I am not a rock star. you are. This is not about me. This is about you and all my other friends and fellow warriors who are on the front lines and taking heavy fire. God bless you Bud. Todd
Posted 3/18/2013 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
Good Morning Bud,

I hope this finds you better and on a smoother road.

Jack
Posted 3/18/2013 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Bud, thinking about you.
Posted 3/19/2013 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
So sorry to hear of your setback. This journey is definitely not a smooth one! You will make it through, I'm confident. You have a great attitude and that is so much of this battle!
Posted 3/19/2013 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
Bud,

I certainly appreciate your knowledge and spirit which you so freely share with all of us here at HW. You are in my prayers -physical strength- clarity of mind-diminishing PSA- and peace.
May tomorrow bring you rich blessings.

Thanks dear brother
David
Posted 3/20/2013 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
Brothers and Sisters

Apprciate you good thoughts.

Today's scan showed a increase in the prostate cancer mets in the liver.

We are talking bout Xtandi next

Any thoughts?
Posted 3/20/2013 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Look at our Xtandi posts. Always hope. Hugs Bud!!! You are a special guy.
Posted 3/20/2013 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Bud,

You've come a long way. Keep your head up, and keep counting the days until La.

We'll have a good time then. A lot of hugs to go around.

Goodlife
Posted 3/20/2013 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
My husband has been on Xtandi 3 1/2 months now. He gets a bit tired in the evenings, but he is a bit older now than he was last year at this time! It has really been going well for him and I hope if they decide on this for you, that you will have the same results as he is having so far. We will see his oncologist this Friday, so hopefully there are no surprises then. Best of luck to you!
Posted 3/20/2013 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
Bud,

Sorry about your report, but I've seen and heard of good results with xtandi....

Good thoughts from up North....

Jerry
Posted 3/20/2013 5:50 AM (GMT 0)
Crap. I'm so sorry to read your update.

We haven't gotten to Xtandi yet, so I can't give you personal experience, but wow the stats are impressive. Over a 50% drop in PSA for the majority of men, five times the androgen-blocking power of casodex, clinical trials that were stopped early because the results were so strong it was unethical to leave some men in the control group, FDA fast tracked approval...all of that sounds good to me. My memory from our appointment is fuzzy, but I remember Dr. Myers had a lot of good things to say about Xtandi. You're in a big battle, but that's a big gun.

More prayers with your name on them tonight. I'll be honest and admit I haven't exactly been a regular over the years, which could mean I got no pull, but I'd like to think the opposite -- I think it might get his attention, as "wow, this Raddad must be really Rad, he's even got slackers like Infohound praying..." (yes, of course he calls us by our HW names!)

Remember, you will beat this crap.
Posted 3/20/2013 9:07 AM (GMT 0)
Bud, I am sad to hear the latest news.  My thoughts and prayers go out to you.  You're such a sweetheart and I want things to start going your way.  Please give GiGi a hug for me.  She's such a beautiful child!  God bless you!

Hugs,

Aimzee

Posted 3/20/2013 9:19 AM (GMT 0)
I hope xtandi works for you. I believe that an effective treatment is in your stars like I believe this for my husband. It's a matter of finding it! Just read about Marilyn's Marshall on zytiga and how effective that is for him. We haven't had that experience yet but we are hopeful.
I am hopeful for you. You will beat this crap, Bud, you will.
Posted 3/20/2013 11:09 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds to me like you need to eat some mud bugs in Baton Rouge next month and get away from all this crap for a few days.  We have plenty of hugs waiting for your arrival. Love you my mostest gooderest buddy.

Terry

Posted 3/20/2013 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bud, just got a newsletter from JH this morning, and in it some info on Xtandi:

"Xtandi blocks testosterone receptors at three separate points, preventing testosterone from traveling into the nucleus of a cell to stimulate the genes that cause prostate cancer growth. Study results reported PSA declines of 50 percent or greater in the Xtandi group compared with almost no decline in the placebo group (54 percent versus 1.5 percent). Xtandi is also well tolerated. Common side effects include fatigue, diarrhea and hot flashes.

According to Dr. Antonarakis, after two to three months, it will become evident who responds to Xtandi and who does not. PSA levels may initially flare or plateau, but then they drop, so Dr. Antonarakis discourages patients from giving up on Xtandi after a month. If PSA is still rising after three consecutive months of using Xtandi, this indicates that it probably will not work for that patient."

hugs!
Posted 3/20/2013 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Bud,

You are such a positive force on this forum and have uplifted not only the members, but I am sure those who lurk. Now it is our turn to return the good deed for you.

We or our loved ones are on a battling path to beat this crap. Some of us are on similar paths and some of us are on different paths. Some of us are new and just starting and some of us are on the front lines paving the way. With each new test you get results that help you determine what is the best new arrow to pull and shoot.

I know you will find the right arrow and teach those that follow, how to beat this crap. I hope that you can feel the positive strength I am sending your way.
Posted 3/20/2013 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Not much to add to so many comments. I think you can tell how loved you are on this board by the quantity of replies even if you did not read the posts that are full of love and support.

I too hope it goes well for you
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