A little erratic. Zytiga?

Hi everyone. Hope you’re all doing ok

Just needing to get a few things off my chest really. My Dad, as some of you know declined massively over the Christmas period... However, things have improved... He’s eating, shopping etc. No comparison to what he was like a few weeks ago so that’s really good. He has been on the Zytiga for around 2 weeks now and his aches and pains seem to have lessened too. One thing that has struck me, well... the whole family is his mood swings. I don’t know quite how to put it but he’s a little/very erratic. I have no idea whether this is down to the new meds... or quite possibly down to the sheer stress of having to endure what he is going through. I’m thinking the latter. Would be interesting to hear from anybody who had experienced similar. He’s being really rather snappy (nice way of putting it) and short with all of us which is quite out of character. It’s pretty hard to deal with but I’m biting my tongue and remaining calm.

He’s also hell bent on going abroad for the summer. I’m stuck in the middle of it... my Mum is very reluctant to travel with him in case he takes a turn for the worse, I completely understand her worries. I also see my Dad’s point of view... he’s thinking it’s the last chance he’ll get to go on holiday. I will be going away with them if he’s given the all clear to go... I kind of side with him on this one as ... Well... you’ve got to live your life. The people who do well here seem to take that attitude... it’s a tricky one...am I crazy for supporting him with this? What if he does need to get to hospital... Everything is in place here and owing to his condition he’s pretty much seen immediately if he needs someone. The oncologist is 20 minutes away and the Macmillan nurse is just down the road. None of us have any idea what his health will be like by August.. I’m praying he’s doing well... But being abroad is quite daunting I guess. It’s the only thing he will talk about at the moment... He even told my Mum he’d be going if she wasn’t ... Again... wayyyyy out of character.


Arghhh.... I’ve rambled. I apologise. Would like to hear your views on travelling and any thoughts on the ‘personality change!’

Michael is correct. The mix of the three left me absolutely unpredictable. And without testosterone, it can be screaming at the mailman for creasing the paper or crying through the "send money for the poor abandoned animals" commercials.

I am with you
rancherdave, Bravo!

Microchip

Those drugs create the male version of menopause - hot flashes, mood swings, etc. But it sounds like he is doing much better.

When my father was dying of brain cancer, my mother took him on a trip to Florida. In some ways it was a nightmare - my father kept falling, vomiting, getting confused, and had bouts of incontinence. But my parents coped with each incident as it happened, and in the end would not have traded their last trip together for the world. i think the trick is to NOT anticipate everything that could go wrong - that would be overwhelming. Just take it as it comes, and deal with it only when and if it happens (whatever "it' may be).

Go on the trip. Having lost 3 members of my family to cancer and myself having PC, I was still not doing what I really wanted to do because my wife and I are watching after her mother (96 yrs old). Last week my sister was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. That was the last straw. Told my wife I was going on a camping/hunting trip. Just me and my bird dog. Only stayed away for 5 days, but it was totally rejuvenating.

Like the others, I have had plenty of mood swings that clearly are brought on by the medications. I wouldn't say they've gotten any better or worse really with the Zytiga. Lupron has always done it for me.

It is nice to be aware that this is something to be expected. My unwanted moods pass quickly enough, and I know when I feel that way that it is the drugs and it will pass. It is almost sort of funny to observe myself, even while the mood swings are taking place, knowing what is happening and that it will pass. If it were to stay for a longer period of time, I might be more concerned. It is quite a shock for a normally quiet, unemotional type that I have always been to show this other side. On the other hand, one can find a bright side in knowing that the medicine is doing its job fighting the cancer, and this is just a small, predictable side effect.

I also hope like others have said that you will be able to do the traveling. The best way to deal with this disease is to keep on living life as fully as you can. Despite the occasional emotional lows, there are also emotional highs that can come pretty easily too, as long as worry doesn't get in the way.

Thanks for all your messages. It's very much appreciated. You're all wonderful i agree with all of you. I really want for him to take the trip, I've spoken to Mum and asked her to try really hard not to let her anxiety about going on holiday put a stop to them both going. I'll be there with them to help out. Just really hope he's given the OK to go as he's had a DVT in the past so there's a slight concern over flying. I believe it can also be a little tricky to get holiday insurance with his condition. Fingers crossed it all goes ahead and that he is in fact well enough to go at that stage. Staying positive.

Thanks again everyone for your input X

Yes, take the trip... my spouse and i went to Florida for about 10 days, it was great .. i had just started my zytiga, with lupron and xgeva...and now I have been on this for 3 months... i have all of the aforementioned symptoms, but i don't know which causes what.. so i have a swig of wiskey, a toke , and a hydrocodone and try to adjust my attitude.. as i am 80 and on the edge,,, i think i can do whatever i please ;~}

One heck of a triple header, Chuck!!!

garyi said...
One heck of a triple header, Chuck!!!

Which triple header? The zytiga, lupron and xgeva? Or the swig of whiskey, a toke and a hydrocodone?

Kathy77 said...
I think he may be referring to the latter 😂