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Prostate cancer provenge? red blood cell?

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Posted 9/28/2013 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
My dad just completed his third provenge treatment. He is stage IV with prostate cancer now in the bones, ribs, vertebrate, and paraortic lympnoids. His PSA is 809.
3 questions- 1. His routine blood screen showed that his red blood cells are extremely low. Any suggestions on what he can take or do to try to increase this or the lack of energy he has as a result of this?

2nd. He sleeps ALL the time and has zero energy. Could this be a side effect of the provenge or is it most likely just the cancer?

3. His memory seems to be going. Side effect of provenge or cancer taking its course?
Posted 9/29/2013 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
Red Blood Cells carry oxygen and when this number is low, it causes anemia. Cancer eats away at red blood cells. With less oxygen he will be tired and less oxygen is in the blood, including blood that goes to his brain which could cause memory problems. He will also be short of breath and tired. Is he on any other treatments to lower his psa? My dad had chemo right after provenge and his psa lowered quite a bit. They can give an injection to boost his reds.
Posted 9/29/2013 5:27 AM (GMT 0)
I think she meant this as a comment here.

hopefuldaughter said...
Upstatematt- what was your dads PSA at its highest?

Nothing is scheduled yet. Body scan this week and then go from there. Only things left to try though are xtandiA, chemo and x2000 ( not sure of exact name of that one). Hopefully something gets started this week. He is ailing fast!!

Posted 9/29/2013 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum.

Some of the problems you describe could have a lot of causes. Provinge could bee causing them but so could a lot of other things. They are all good questions for his doctors.

But in the meanwhile, what other drugs is he taking, there may be something else to blame it on.
Posted 9/29/2013 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
He is not on anything right now which is quite troublesome! He is hoping to start radium 223 and if not then xtandiA. His psa went from 300 to 809 in just 3 weeks!
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