First month of hormone treatment - would appreciate input x

This is an absolutely amazing 1 month response to HT and should we see another drop month 2 then you can be rest assured that your Love will be with you for many, many more years.
I would advise that he stays the course with Casodex as well as the Zolodex since the addition of Casodex provides a duel action suppression , as small as it may, but still significant in the full suppression of T and as a result the starvation of the cancer.

I would also advise that chemo treatment should be initiated asap along with his current regiment since it has been proven to significantly extend life. The Chemo in this case is very mild and well tolerated as Cyclone can attest, so please do not miss the small window of opportunity he has to realize the benefits of it.

Your husband will be around for many more years I promise you and they will be quality years that you can enjoy together as never before. Take advantage of that because finding a partner that you truly love may only be a once in a lifetime occurrence and it appears to me that you and he are soul mates.
Please keep us updated

I would expect the PSA value to drop around 10 in about two to three months time.

The advantage of adding Bicalutamide is so small that you better avoid the side effects that are caused.

In case of your husband his doctors should suggest a Chemo therapy now while he has not yet suffered from the PCa and the ADT side effects. Here is an article about this therapy. "Docetaxel plus ADT significantly improved overall survival compared with ADT alone."

George

I do expect that but I can be wrong. If you put the brakes on with ADT it does not matter that much how high the initial PSA value was, all tumor cells stop growing. However, this is no cure. You just stop the tumor for some time.

I am personally convinced that it helps if you debulk the tumor. There are just early studies that indicate a benefit but this makes me think it is not better to keep your lesions. So making a cytoreductive radiation of the prostate gland and the bone metastases will be beneficial. It will be difficult to find a doctor in the UK that will do that for you. They will say this will not cure you so why do it. Well, it seems to extend survival according to the available studies. And the patient will want to do it if it provides a good chance to help.

George

Hello Sallyyy,

From your posts, it sounds like your husband is strongly considering a series of chemotherapy treatments.

I went through a series of chemo treatments two years ago, based on new recommendations that emerged from the STAMPEDE trial and the CHAARTED trials, which have been referenced above by others in their messages.

In simple terms, the purpose of adding chemo treatments to the ADT shots is to attack the cancer in a different way --- the ADT hormone shots help to "starve" the hormone sensitive cancer cells, while the chemo treatments begin to attack the stubborn, residual cancer cells that are NOT sensitive to the ADT hormone shots.

For other friends of mine who now share in my same diagnosis, who need a visual example, I explain that you are basically loading up a Winchester repeating rifle, and with each successive chemo treatment, you are "shooting" directly at those stubborn, resistant cancer cells with each chemo treatment. In my case, it was six chemo treatments ... "Bang, bang, BANG ! ... Bang, bang, BANG !"

Hopefully, that gives you a visual image as to what chemo treatments can potentially do for your husband's situation. It's important to makes these decisions in consultation with your husband's medical team --- an oncologist would oversee chemotherapy treatments, if you pursue that form of treatment.

In my case, the ADT shots lowered the PSA levels a great deal. I was very grateful for that. That's where you are RIGHT NOW --- as you begin to witness the initial lowering of PSA scores from the first ADT shots.
They ARE powerful ... and we all need hope and encouragement when we first get started on treatments.

From there, the chemo treatments began to lower my PSA even lower than the ADT hormone shots could do on their own. I was in the first wave of patients who underwent the "early chemo plan" soon after diagnosis --- along with several other "battle brothers" here on this website.

I think it's important to share that chemo was able to add a different weapon in the initial attack against my cancer. I know you have shared concerns about low white cell count and immunity levels while undergoing chemo treatments.

In my case, the first chemo treatment ALSO impacted my immunity levels, which is typical and common for anyone undergoing chemo treatments. My doctor was very concerned, as I am a public school teacher, and there were 800 students in my school building the year that I started chemo --- ironically, my chemo treatments began just as a new school year was beginning that August !

With that in mind, my primary oncologist prescribed a shot of NEULASTA, which helped restore my immune system after each chemo treatment. If your husband decides to undergo a series of chemo treatments, please ask his medical team about the benefits of NEULASTA, following each chemo treatment.

The NEULASTA shot helped me stay on track for each chemo treatment, and helped restore my immunity levels following every chemo infusion. Your husband's doctors will advise you on all of this and will help advise you and your husband on what is best for his particular situation.

As the weeks went by, I watched my PSA begin to creep lower and lower, following each chemo treatment. My doctors watched over me with great care and compassion during those weeks and months. My chemo treatments were comprised of a series of six TAXOTERE infusions, given every 3 weeks, for a total of 18 weeks. I started in August and finished up in November. That was two years ago now.

I just wanted to add a bit more first-hand experience to follow-up on your post.

You are and your husband are NOT ALONE. We are all here for you --- and we're all in this --- TOGETHER !

Handshake of support, from across the miles,
"Cyclone Team Fan " ~ Iowa State University