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Chemo and PSA drop

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Posted 2/9/2015 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
For those of you who have done chemo, what was your experience with your PSA dropping? Was it dramatic and fairly quick, or was it more of a steady decline? My husband started weekly infusions of Taxotere/Carboplatin the first week of December and his psa is slowing dropping from 23-10. The doc says as long as it is dropping, we are on the right track. My husband is feeling frustrated that it is not dropping as quickly as he was hoping. I am not sure what to think! Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Barb
Posted 2/9/2015 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Gator, using the stats in your signature, the PSA doubling time is -2.1 months, which would mean it is halving at that speed. I've read where dead PC cells entering the bloodstream causes PSA to rise so, if the PSA tests show a drop with dead cells entering the bloodstream I would have to think that is good. Just my logic. Smarter guys will chime in!

Cheers, Doug
Posted 2/9/2015 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Gator,

I did the Taxotere chemotherapy treatments last fall --- a series of six treatments, given over the course of eighteen total weeks.

When I started the treatments, my PSA was down in the low decimals. My PSA dropped little by little each time over the course of the six treatments, dropping just by decimals each time.

I am glad to see that the PSA values are dropping more and more in your case, which would indicate to me that the chemotherapy is having a positive effect in your case. The chemotherapy is able to kill some cancer cells that the hormone therapy can not kill.

Keep forging ahead and keep us all posted,
Cyclone
Posted 2/9/2015 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Gator,

I've had 12 rounds, with the 13th currently on hold.

You might find some information in this other HW thread> www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=3219774
My post within this thread references a number of studies I found on the subject, maybe they will be of some help.

In any case, down is always good!!!

My best,
Posted 2/9/2015 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
Carboplatin? Is this a neuroendocrine cancer or other rare form?

PSA isn't the only indicator, there's bone alkaline phosphatase and several others. And, importantly, whether the mets seem to be regressing on scans. You have to look at all of it together. What does his oncologist say?

- Allen
Posted 2/9/2015 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
They are treating it as if it is a neuroendocrine form since it is so aggressive. The doc felt like Taxotere by itself would not do the job. Thankfully the alk phos is down in the normal range. He has 2 more weeks of chemo and then we are doing another scan, so we are just in the waiting mode right now.

Thanks for all the replies!

Barb
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