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Starting chemo on Monday

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Posted 4/17/2018 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
My dad is starting his chemo (Estramustine and Etoposide) on Monday. Why they have been waiting around all this time is beyond me but they said whether he starts today or Monday would make no difference. They want him to start on a Monday because taking the medications is "complicated." It seems to me they should have started a week or 2 ago since his PSA is going up quickly and they knew about it then. I don't know why they seem to be brushing that off like that. They said this chemo will be given in cycles and hopefully the PSA will stabilize soon. They also said it will likely take 3 cycles before he sees a reduction in his PSA and that those two drugs are old drugs but they have been effective for treating PCa. Just thought I'd post an update.
Posted 4/18/2018 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Keep us updated on progress.

Here's hoping this does the trick.

Andrew
Posted 4/18/2018 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
When I had 25 sessions of radiation, they explained how giving me the weekends off was for my benefit since I wouldn't have continual exposure to the radiation. But it was pretty obvious that was what worked best for the staff.

That said, a few days probably doesn't make a difference in your dad's chemo treatment. PCa is not a rapid, quick-growing disease--even in more advance cases. But I can certainly understand your impatience--once you've decided on something you want to get going.

Good luck to you and your dad. There have been a few recent chemo threads here that might be helpful to you.
Posted 4/18/2018 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys. I just assumed if the PSA goes up fast, the cancer is growing fast.
Posted 4/18/2018 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
It all depends on how you define "fast"...The important number is PSA doubling time, how long does it take his PSA number to double. Once that number reaches say 500, then doubles to 1000 then doubles again to 2000, well you can see what I mean...
Posted 4/18/2018 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
I understand that but relative to other cancers, it is slow growing, correct? My dad's doubles in about 2 and a half months. I know that's not good but at least there are still options. My uncle had cancer in his throat, then it went to his kidneys and brain and he lived only a week.
Did Provenge help you Fairwind? What did they say about your bone mets?
Posted 4/19/2018 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Your minute-by-minute anxiety is understandable, but in the big picture I wouldn't worry about it. You said that your uncle "lived only a week," but that said nothing about the vast differences in their cases; meaningless to compare the two...someone who has cancer spread to liver and brain generally isn't going to live long. They always like (guideline, not a rule) to start a new chemo on Mondays so that the regular weekday staff is available to monitor initial flares/problems in the first couple days...not great to have the weekend crew deal with a new issue. That's good planning on their part. What is the planned cycle frequency?

I wish him well.

Post Edited (NKinney) : 4/18/2018 6:29:44 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/19/2018 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
I am trying not to worry and I think I'm doing pretty good, a lot better than a couple months ago.
When I wrote that about my uncle dying I was trying to describe how the 2 cancers are quite different, how prostate cancer grows significantly slower than other cancers and how it isn't as bad as my uncle's type. I didn't mean I thought my dad would only live a week, sorry I didn't type what I wanted to say very well. tongue
I am not 100% sure on what my dad has to do with the pills, but I think a cycle is 4 weeks. I will have to ask my mother. She gave me a lot of information at once on the day she told me about him starting the chemo that I didn't absorb it all. I will ask her again soon.
Posted 4/19/2018 12:46 PM (GMT 0)

LisaInIndiana said...
Thanks guys. I just assumed if the PSA goes up fast, the cancer is growing fast.

I think the Gleason score is more of an indicator of how aggressive (I relate aggressive to fast growing) the cancer is. Gleason 6 - very slow growing, G9 - fast growing.
Posted 4/19/2018 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Well I just have to trust his oncologist knows what she's doing and go from there, but I think it would be hard for me to trust any doctor with the life of one of my loved ones.
Posted 5/11/2018 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to give an update on my dad. He had his follow up appointment yesterday with the nurse. As I've said before, when the doctor first decided to put him on the chemo, his PSA was 32 and rising. They told my dad his PSA would likely keep going up for a month until the chemo had a chance to take effect. The nurse expected his PSA to rise by about 10-15. Well his PSA was 33! They said that's really good and much better than expected so everyone is pleased. I don't know why that is but I'm not complaining. Maybe it's the tomatoes! ha
Posted 5/11/2018 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
It is because it is absolutely unpredictable. Every man and his cancer is different than anyone else. Just the way it is.
Posted 5/11/2018 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
Lisa,

Consider that the PSA will have to stop / slow going up before it comes down. Mine went level at the start, then slowly started dropping.

I didn't and wouldn't have expected it to fall immediately.

Your report sounds GREAT to me.
Posted 5/19/2018 4:32 AM (GMT 0)

Hello Lisa ~

Just a line to wish your dad the very best, during his chemotherapy treatments.

There are many of us right here, in what we informally call "The Chemo Club" --- it takes some patience and determination to forge ahead during chemo treatments --- and we're here to support you and your dad at this time.

Take things one day at a time, and I truly hope your dad will do well during his treatments.

Along the way, let us know how your dad is faring ---

Sent with all my best,
CYCLONE --- Iowa State University
Posted 5/21/2018 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone! My dad is doing so-so. He's a complainer anyway so I think he may be overly dramatic. He has had upset stomach and vomiting. He also says he has a sore mouth and nose. Today he noticed some of his hair is falling out and now he is worried my mom won't love him anymore if he loses all his hair. He also urinated in the bed today. I am not sure if that is from the chemo or not. He has taken his anti-nausea pills and keeps saying how he's sick but of course he never misses a meal. He still drives to the store a million times a day as he always has.
At his check up last time he asked the nurse how many rounds of chemo he had to take and they told him he'd be taking at least 6. He was discouraged, but what does he expect? Doesn't he have to continue on it until it doesn't work anymore?
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