Posted 10/18/2016 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Mary and Dan,
Greetings to you ! There are several of us here who have been helped by ZYTIGA ... I know it's helpful to hear from a range of people when posting, so I will share my experience with ZYTIGA. Here we go ...
I've been on continuous ADT hormone shots since diagnosis, then pursued a series of six TAXOTERE chemotherapy treatments. When those treatments were finished up, my primary oncologist and I discussed the possibility of going on either XTANDI or ZYTIGA, to continue knocking away at my P.S.A. levels. Both of these medications were F.D.A. approved about the same time, just a few years ago, and are in the newer class of breakthrough medications for advanced prostate cancer.
My oncologist recommended I start on ZYTIGA, because he had more experience with that medication. It has to be shipped to you, or to a designated location, each month, due to the high value of the medication. Some fellows have it shipped directly to their home or to a designated pharmacy. In my case, I have it shipped directly to my place of work, and the secretary signs for it when the medication shipment arrives.
I'm a teacher, and I started ZYTIGA in August 2015, just as a new school year began. I didn't know what to expect, but my oncologist was hopeful. I started taking the daily dose of ZYTIGA --- four large white, chalky pills each day. Within 20 days, my oncologist had me return for a P.S.A. test, to see if ZYTIGA was starting to have an initial impact on my P.S.A. and my P.S.A. was already starting to decline ! That was a very hopeful sign --- and I've been on ZYTIGA for over a year now --- along with other brothers of mine here on this website.
I kept thinking, "Can ZYTIGA carry me through an entire school year?" After starting ZYTIGA in August, the events of another school year continued to unfold ... Homecoming Game during football season, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Break, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, Spring Break ... and then summer rolled around. As a teacher, ZYTIGA had carried me through an entire school year ... and I'm still taking ZYTIGA each day.
I also have personal friends of mine who share my same diagnosis, and they have also been helped by ZYTIGA. My oncologist refers to another patient of his who is starting his fourth year on ZYTIGA. That's a beacon of hope for others, to be sure !
I don't seem to experience any additional side effects from taking ZYTIGA. It's important that you take ZYTIGA on an EMPTY STOMACH --- a friend of mine did not follow those directions, and was told by his oncologist that ZYTIGA will not reach its full impact, unless you take it on an empty stomach --- no food is to be taken 2 hours prior to taking the four pills, and no food for 1 hour after taking the pills. You take the four pills with WATER --- not milk or juice or coffee or other drinks.
Each day, you also have to take 2 tiny prednisone steroid pills, to help your body tolerate the ZYTIGA. Those 2 tiny steroid pills can be taken with meals.
I have discovered that it is VERY helpful to drink some water BEFORE you take the four ZYTIGA pills each day. Drink some more water in between each of the four pills and when you are finished. The water helps "buffer" the potential side effect of nausea from the pills. Other friends of mine have discovered the importance of drinking plenty of water with the four pills.
True life testimonial --- one morning, I was in a hurry, so I "wolfed" down the four ZYTIGA pills --- because I was in a rush ... a big mistake, and life lesson learned ... read on ...
Sure enough, about an hour later, I had the dry heaves --- I needed to slow down, take one pill at a time, and drink water before and after taking EACH of the four pills. Other friends of mine have learned the same lesson --- the importance of drinking plenty of WATER, along with the four daily pills. That's the best lesson I have learned to share with you, Mary and Dan.
Your doctor will monitor your blood lab levels each month, because ZYTIGA can impact liver levels and liver function. I go in for lab work every four weeks, year 'round, without fail. I will also say that Dr. KWON at Mayo Clinic endorsed my primary oncologist's decision to place me on ZYTIGA following my chemo treatments, to help suppress my P.S.A. levels.
As the months went along, I felt fortunate, because ZYTIGA helped drop my P.S.A. down to the lowest levels I had ever experienced --- even lower than when I was undergoing chemotherapy infusions ! So, I think that is a testament to the potential power of ZYTIGA. I realize each case and situation is different, but it's also important for us to share SUCCESS STORIES when those occur.
I know that ZYTIGA has been helping me, over the course of the past year. I'm on my 14th monthly bottle of ZYTIGA now ... and for some reason, I save all the empty ZYTIGA bottles, all lined up in my medicine cupboard, as a daily reminder of my progress with this newer breakthrough medication.
I work full-time each day, I stay active, I exercise, and I stay connected with my family, friends, and faith, each and every day. I am thankful that ZYTIGA has been there to help me and to help other friends of mine.
I felt sharing my first-hand experiences with ZYTIGA might be helpful and encouraging and insightful to you.
Handshake, friendship, & support from a fellow "Brother In The Battle" ~
"Cyclone Team Fan" ~ Iowa State University