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Jevtana - it's side effects & did it work for U

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Posted 10/18/2013 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Look at signature and you will see my husbands journey......PSA numbers rising after 8 sessions of Taxotere ending in December 2012; Started on Xtandi: PSA numbers... 01/10/13 - 44.30; 02/07/13 -13.20;
04/13/13 - 12.71; 05/30/13 - 13.41; 07/25/13 - 21.49 & 09/19/13 - 46.24.

September CT didn't show any significant growth of lesions in lungs or kidneys. Wants bone scan to verify more mets......then when reviewed and we get results at appointment time (if positive) will start Jevtana that same day. Did not advise number of sessions. Am concerned over the side effects noted and possible allergic reactions.

Asked about Zytiga, and oncologist wasn't overwhelmed with using this medication since Xtandi is failing. He has heard that some patient have used Zytiga after Jevtana and had a year without to much of a rise in PSA.

Just need you guys out there in "HW" land for your knowledge and how you did with this drug.....any comments or postings will be most greatly appreciated.....
Posted 10/18/2013 10:15 AM (GMT 0)
Jevtana was offered to my husband after everything else failed. But by that time, he was in no shape physically to endure it. Had he been, I think he would have gone that path. Because that path means you are holding onto life and hope.
This is a hard one. I certainly have been in your shoes. My husband had zytiga twice and neither time did the trick. But it's worth getting a second opinion on.
No answers here, just sharing your angst.
Posted 10/18/2013 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there tednsal,

Just wanted to offer my best wishes on your hubby´s journey. Jevtana offers survival time in PC patients, it wouldn´t have been approved for PC if it didn´t. Dr. Myers also talks about it in his video, here it is:
askdrmyers.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/cabazitaxel-for-advanced-pca/

Hugs!
Posted 10/18/2013 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
tednsal, your husband and mine sound very similar and on the same path. Mine is currently on Xtandi after using Zytiga, and already the Oncologist is saying that he would like to use Jevtana when the Xtandi fails. I have heard like you about side affects and wonder if mine would be up to it. I guess I will see when we get there. Would like to hear more if you go that route. I believe "Grizzlynme" just started Jevtana after using Xtandi, you may want to check his posts. Take care.
Posted 10/18/2013 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks enjoylife. I have found his thread and will write on it as well. I have been worried about those side effects from this drug. SpecialLady gave me a link to Dr. Myers, and he seems very happy with it & it's results. So we may consider it....I am just so tired of watching my husband slip away, shrinking from the man I once ran with, went fishing with, wrestled with and now have to be careful to not cause him any bruising. He's not that fragile, yet, but I don't want anything to "break" because I do not know how strong his bones actually are and do not want to initiate any fractures or sprains. I feel that we only have about a year and a half left, after all we have to look at how long he has been fighting this disease, since 1999 and we have been very blessed to have lasted this long. So we will continue the fight.

Trying to sell our house and move closer to one of our son's for support later on. Just can't get it sold, market is very slow in this area.

This forum is so helpful and encouraging to many of us and I so much do appreciate all of the postings, we have to help each other......
Posted 10/20/2013 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
tednsal, enjoylife,
nhwife's words are so true, it's about holding onto hope and life. I see it with Mark. While his PSA is rising, he did get one more month on Zytiga while we are on vacation. It's so emotionally painful to see the guy we love fight this awful disease that robs them of everything over time. Mark's spirit is the same, but his body is almost done with the fight. He's always been a risk-taker, maybe similar to anyone who competed in downhill ski events. He will do what he can for the extra few months, at least that is where he is today.
Special lady, thank you for the link. Hope some of the other HW members will share more on Jevtana, since more of the guys are getting to the last few choices.
Pat
Posted 10/22/2013 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
dreamer, nice to see you back. Hope you had a great time on your vacation.

tednsal, I just posted to grizzy's thread thanking him for keeping us posted on his Jevtana journey.

Hi to all.

Cathy
Posted 10/23/2013 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Tednsal, sorry for the slipping away. It is so hard. Mike did try Jevtana. It was so much easier then the Taxotere. His hot flashes were bad and he started re losing his hair. I think we were past anything working and everyone is so different. Take care. Have missed you all, but not the pain and hurt. Jane
Posted 10/23/2013 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Passages, good information. Pretty sure mine will be going down that road when Xtandi no long works.
We all missed you too!

Cathy
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