Update on Dad

How old is your Dad? Where do you live? yes, the casodex can reinforce the lupron and deliver a good response...Plus, there are now several other treatments available that can keep the dragon at bay for quite a while...Best of luck to you both...

Theresa,

I hope the bicalutamide works for awhile. When it doesn't, I think NHS has approved both Zytiga and Xtandi. Taxotere may be a good idea too.

I'm glad he is able to get around. Xgeva has been found to prevent fractures, and Xofigo has been found to reduce bone mets. If any are currently painful, he can get a single dose of spot radiation to it to relieve the pain.

- Allen

Thank you so much for your replies, it so helpful to be able to get information, I want to be fully armed when we see the oncolgy consultant as he doesn't know my Dad and how active he is. His and our preference is for quality. Mum and Dad are very active and enjoy cross country walking, mountain walks and up until a year ago Dad was still fixing all the family cars, doing our decorating etc. even now he is still walking 6-7 miles twice a week but he is now struggling to do this. He has pain in both legs, back and neck. He has had to change the way he gets in and out of bed due to the pain and he is very stiff which hinders his mobility. Dad will not give in and forces his body to work. I feel I need to be fighting for the treatment that gives him the best quality of life. The doctors will only see him as an 81 year old man and not the person he is. The people on this site have really given me insperation. So nice not feel alone. God bless you all.

Theresaxx ......

   First, side effects vary tremendously person-to-person - but I'de be glad to give you mine along with comments:

On Zytiga (oral capsules) ..... my SE's were losing weight (over 40-pounds in 5-months) with my appetite being strongly affected. That was my only major SE .... and from what I've heard, it's not too common to lose like I did on the Zytiga.

On Taxotere (injected by IV) ..... my SE's were mostly developing a cycle of constipation & diarrea (3-days of constipation - followed by 1-day of diarrea). I very briefly had nausea and I did lose about 40% of my hair during the 5-months. The nausea was brief and easily controlled. There was minor muscle ache at times - but not constant.

On Xtandi (oral capsules) ...... my SE's were a continuation of the above while on Taxotere - except hair loss stopped.

On Jevtana (injected by IV) ..... my SE's were very much like those while on Taxotere (a similar chemo) - except the hair loss was less - at about 20% loss.

Note .... have been off of chemo for 11-weeks now:

Hair loss stopped. Minor muscle ache stopped. But - GI cycles now at 1 or 2-days constipation then 3 or 4-days diarrea. Imodium does stop the diarrea - but i don't use it often (my choice)! A stool softener will help - and my Oncologist prefers i use that instead of any laxative.

Final Note ......... being tired goes with the territory. I cannot tell how much of that is due to the chemo and how much to the Lupron. They both contribute!

Best wishes to you both.

Rob & Gizmo

  

Thank you, I will be fighting all the way to get the best treatment for my Dad. Keeping his quality is the most important thing. He has a loving family and loves to help out and be wanted. I will do everything in my power to get him the best treatment. The internet is a great place to source information but this site has given me the best information because it real people. So strong and possitive. You are right about British Doctors. They have a tendency to tell you what treatment they are going to give you which is why I need as much information as possible. your right about Bicultamide being given prior to hormone treatment as dad had this. I was lead to beleive he is now taking it as a second line hormone.

Hi - we are in a similar boat - my Dad is 80 and I'm pushing for the best treatment/quality of life path also. My Dad just finished his 5th out of a scheduled 6 rounds of taxotere in conjuction with his lupron shots. His PSA after a TURP was a misleading 300+ At his 5th round appointment the results came back at 24 from the previous 27 (3 weeks earlier). My Dad has had a lot of issues with tissue clogging his eurethra and darning his urine flow which has been quite painful.

We are convinced that the prostate tissue is breaking apart from the chemo and perhaps the TURP. Right now he has had a catheter put in just before the 5th round and he will keep it until after his final round of chemo on 9/30/14. We are hoping that once the chemo stops so will this terrible SE.

Dad was not able to sleep many nights but with the catheter in place he can. He hasn't lost his appetite but no longer enjoys food - he knows what it should taste like but it's all paste for a week or more after a round of taxotere. Many days he is tired but he knows that the more active he is the better he will feel.

He has mets throughout his skeleton and I can't wait to see a scan after his final round of chemo. He complains that sometimes his legs don't feel like his own and in the past he has lost sensation in his lower legs. This has lessoned with the chemo but his muscular atrophy remains. He's frustrated that he is losing so much muscle mass but I ensure him that he can regain this once he is more active.

Dad has lost 60% of his hair but he doesn't care. This may change come bitter winter in New Jersey. He is still living alone on his 5 acre farm and I continue to visit every week to play house keeper/farm hand. Some times he's a pain in the ass complaining about how the doctors don't know what they are doing and haven't listened to his clogging issues. I take comfort hearing him ***** because that means he's fighting. He has assured me that he will invent a more functional catheter because that is another thing that doesn't work properly.

Once the complaints slow down I'll be worried.

Keep on truckin'
MomEof3

Just a quick update Dad has his 4th taxotere treatment tomorrow, His PSA has dropped little at last. So far the treatment has been very managable for Dad with little adverse affect.

The good points of the treatment out weigh any bad points. Eating better and has put on a little weight, pain reduced by 90%. Mobility improved by 25%. We are hoping that Dad's PSA will continue to drop with the next 3 treatments.
Best wishes
Theresa

Hello Deanna,

Dad's 3rd taxotere was the first drop in PSA until then it was still raising just slower. Dad doesn't have a Neulasta shot. He does have a drip (not sure what) before the chemo and another after. He takes steroids daily and has anti sickness pills he also still has his 3 monthly hormone injection. Treatment 4 of 6 tomorrow keeping fingers crossed that the treatment continues to improve his quality of life. I like to update on what is happening as I have found it so helpful to read other peoples experience. Everyone is different but it helps to understand what to expect good and bad.
and yes your right NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE! we all need someone who understands. Best Wishes. Theresa