Brain Mets?

Well, I never thought I would be saying or typing those words.

My 59 year old husband's prostate cancer journey started in the fall of 2006 with a PSA of 35 & a Gleason score of 9.  In Feb 2007 he had a RP (removed 5 lymph nodes as well) followed with HT & radiation.  His PSA was under control for 5 years then started slowly rising.  In the summer of 2012 he had a lung biopsy & the cancer had spread to one lobe.  He continued on HT (casodex & elegard) until started Zytiga in January 2013.  Zytiga had little effect - PSA still rising. Then last May, while pulling himself up into a truck, he split his humorous bone due to a lesion there.  Had surgery, rod inserted.  Then started chemo for the bone mets , taxotere, in June.  His PSA was still rising though we were told that after the 3rd treatment we would see a dramatic decline. However, in 3 weeks the level took a dramatic jump, 60 pts to 296. It was decided that on his next chemo which would be this Monday, 9/30 the dosage would be upped or another chemo drug, jevtana, would be tried.  But this Wednesday he had 2 seizures (never had a history of that) & the cat scan showed 2 lesions on the right side of his brain.  The neurosurgeon at the hospital he was at (our fire dept ambulance took him to the nearest hospital, not the one all his doctors & treatments are) said prostate cancer to the brain is extremely rare (my research shows about a 1-2% chance, but somebody has to make up those stats) so he thought it may be a secondary cancer.  This Monday we have an apt with his oncologist, a radiologist & a neurologist to discuss the possible treatments.

So my question, has anyone ever been in this situation?   Would greatly appreciate any information you can share.

Very scared - this cancer will just not slow down.

Thanks, zufus, for responding with that link. It's an incredible site with so much information. I scanned though it today but will go back again & again to understand hrpca better and to be prepared for Monday's consults.

Lidialynn,

So sorry to read your post. I believe my husband is running the exact same course as yours only his journey started in 2008 at the age of 56 with a PSA of 6.2. He has mets in the bone, lungs and now the brain.
We were told by our Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering that since men are living much longer with the disease they are seeing more patients with brain metastases. I think in the future that 1-2% number may increase.

As for treatment this past January, my husband had his tumors removed, thus two brain surgeries the same week. This was followed by whole brain radiation with 10 treatments. I know first hand how emotionally draining this diagnosis can be. If you would like to talk about brain mets please contact me at my email address and I will give you my phone number. On a positive note, my husband is doing quite well and living life moment to moment. He walked our daughter down the aisle yesterday - truly a miracle after what he has been through.
Remember there is always hope!

Zimac (Chris)

Thanks, Zimac, for sharing you story. I read your post before we left for the dr's appt yesterday - very encouraging & hopeful. As we have 2 unmarried daughters in their mid-twenties, to hear your husband was able to walk your daughter down the aisle last Saturday lifted our spirits (made us cry, too!)

The treatment was decided yesterday. Because of the location of the 3 tumors, surgery is not an option & because of the swelling in his brain, cyper knife is not an option either (was told this would cause more swelling & complications), so he starts whole brain radiation this afternoon. He will get 14 treatments, one a day. Chemo is being halted until the radiation is finished though he continues on HT.

There was some good news - the spots in his lung have shrunk. However that was followed by the bad news that the scans showed a spot on his liver. This cancer just does not want to be stopped.

We do remain hopeful.

Lydialynn,

Just to give you a little more hope - The whole brain radiation wasn't as bad as it sounds. After my husband's last WBR treatment we went to the airport and hopped on a plane to attend my sons wedding - All done against medical advice, but my husband said he had to at least try to get there. If something terrible happened at least he tried. We spent three weeks in the Caribbean recuperating. He actually lost all his hair the day after the wedding - great timing. He has lots of hair in the wedding pictures.

The treatments made him tired and he had some SE's, but nothing awful. I wish the same for you guys. Hang in there as there is still life after a brain mets diagnosis. My husband just drove himself to work a few minutes ago. Living live a bit more normal these days. Not sure how long it will last, but we will take what we are given.

Not sure where you're from, but the New Jersey area is enjoying some fantastic weather. Hope it's the same for you.

Zimac