Against all odds

Thank you all so very much for all the well wishes, thoughts and continued prayers.
@ Maryanddan...yours was a tough dx, but YES, lots more tx options. Have faith and hope. Sending healing thoughts Dan's way.
@Ziggy monster..so sorry to hear that you had to be back in hospital. I think of you often and I hope your stay there is short lived. You deserve a break and I hope you get one very soon. Best wishes for better days, Ziggy.
Beth n Gary
PS. T.A. I read your post to Gary. He didn't understand it like I did, but he appreciated knowing that our doc in the sticks here is on the right track most of the time.

Dear Gary and Beth,
I am so happy for the wonderful news and that Gary is responding to treatment. He just amazes me how he has been able to fight this diseasemformso long. And what an inspiration for us all, especially those of us faced with rising PSA and failing treatment. There is always hope. We just have to believe. Wishing you and Gary more success in the weeks and months to come.

Congrats to the two both of you. This is the best news ever. I tried to read and reply a few days ago but had terrible service. God bless you. I am so so so happy to hear this.

Thank you so very much for your posts Wings, Almost, Jaybee and of course, brother Todd.
It seems that most news these days is not so good from Dr visits. It's great to finally be able to share something hopeful.
Sue, I am so happy to see a post from a dear friend from the past. You helped me keep up the determination to move forward through your example. I pray you are finding as.much joy as possible in life with your best friend no longer at your side. I can understand that this kind of anniversary looming would bring a lot of sad moments in your day. But know that you are a wonderful and loving soul, and there must be a purpose for you here for now.
With gratitude,
Beth n Gary

What a fantastic post -- boy have you two deserved some news like this! I missed your post last month (I'm not on HW as often these days) but I searched for mitazantrone today and up popped this news of your success.

How did he find the experience compared to taxotere? I've been nervous about trying a different chemo because I've read taxotere for PCa is one of the mildest in terms of side effects (and that has been our experience).

Did Gary have to undergo any cardiac testing in advance, since mitazantrone has cardiac risks? If so, what was it?

My husband has a longstanding, used-to-be-well-managed arrthymia, but I think cancer in general, and a year of chemo, with some radiation thrown in, did such a number on his blood cells that his heart has been really stressed. So today our medonc (his PA actually) told me they want to change his therapy to mitazantrone, but will need to do some cardiac testing first. My head was spinning a little (I'd just gotten some scary lab results), so I didn't think to ask what that testing would be. But I'm a little worried about adding any physically demanding or risky testing to his life.

Sorry for highjacking your good news thread, but I'd love to hear a little more about this therapy.

I hope it's continued to work its magic for you

Beth, I'm really sorry to hear it might be failing now. Maybe you can pull another rabbit out of the hat -- you've done it before.

Thanks for answering my questions and better yet, telling me what I wanted to hear! Minimal side effects are my favorite kind, and if all he needs is an echo, then I bet we're set, as he had one fairly recently to try to figure out why his lungs keep filling with fluid.

I'll let you know how this goes, and will hope to hear something good about your next step