HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

ZYTIGA: Our Collective Experiences

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/10/2018 11:52 AM (GMT 0)
Update ... hubby finishes Provenge week after next and then he starts Zytiga. We have already gotten his first bottle from the specialty pharmacy. I've been bugging him about drinking his water during the Provenge treatments and he's now gotten to really dislike "water"! Told him last night that his affair with H2O is over after Provenge ... but can be reduced somewhat! He is tolerating the Provenge well and I'm hopeful he will do well on Zytiga.
Posted 6/10/2018 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry ... meant to say his affair with H2O is NOT over after Provenge .... smile
Posted 6/10/2018 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Did he have any trouble getting Provenge approved ? Not insurance approved but getting approved for the treatment itself ? They seem to be very selective in who they accept for this treatment.
Posted 6/10/2018 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
He didn't seem to have a problem being approved for Provenge. At least not that we are aware of. He is now officially castrate resistant ... so maybe that helped? Not sure ... but he is really looking forward to getting the port out and taking a really nice, long shower! Dr. Sartor just sent his PSA from his 6/7 draw and it is now 2.08 .... Provenge doesn't have a history of doing much to PSA, so since it has gone down a bit ... that is encouraging.
Posted 6/13/2018 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Are the side effects of Lupron, Zytiga and Prolia cumulative? I am about one year into treatment and the side effects seem to worsen. Just wondered if anyone else had that problem?
Posted 6/13/2018 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
When 3 powerful drugs are combined, it's hard to tell which ones are responsible for the side-effects..Being chemically castrated (Lupron) is going to produce some serious "side-effects" regardless..Exactly what sort of side-effects are we talking about?
Posted 6/13/2018 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Fatigue, leg pain (sometimes difficult to get out of chair),more frequent stomach cramps after taking Zytiga, confusion, some loss of cognitive ability, general confusion. All of those side effects are most severe for a couple weeks after shots. But here lately even more so. Not sure what to think.
Posted 6/15/2018 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
Are you drinking enough water? Zytiga can also cause electrolyte imbalance which can lead to confusion and fatigue. Suggestions would be Gatorade and eat foods that are high in potassium and magnesium like spinach, avocados, black beans, bananas, sweet potatoes, tomato soup/sauces, salmon etc. For salt, pickle juice, meat broths.

I try to follow a low carb diet and my electrolytes take a lot of management - supplements as well as foods.

When you feel bad, try drinking a cup of hot broth - if you feel better soon after, you'll know what it is.

You can also call your doctor and go over your symptoms with her/him and see what he/she says.
Posted 6/15/2018 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Be careful with the Gatorade. Lots of Sugar. I use the no sugar power aid.
Posted 6/15/2018 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, Gatorade, a CocaCola product is mostly sugar-water...Pocari Sweat, a Japanese import, somewhat hard to find, comes as a liquid or a powder, is a very effective electrolyte replacement and hydrater..I agree that staying hydrated is VERY important when taking these powerful anti-cancer drugs...
Posted 6/16/2018 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
I'm looking at Pedialyte .... from this ...

Gatorade: Gatorade is a sports drink meant to combat dehydration better than water. It supposedly does this better than regular old water by packing in potassium and sodium, which are both electrolytes. ... Pedialyte has lots of sodium and potassium, but less calories and less sugar than Gatorade.
Posted 7/7/2018 7:55 PM (GMT 0)

Hello!

I just traveled back to my hometown for my high school class reunion on a HOT summer day.

When packing up my suitcase, I realized I needed to take special precautions, when packing up my ZYTIGA medication for traveling.

This same thought has occurred to me in the wintertime, when I am traveling home for Christmas, when the temperature is freezing.

Just a reminder --- when traveling, and packing up your medication --- ZYTIGA is to be kept at ROOM TEMPERATURE, at all times.

Just thought this extra reminder might be helpful to all the travelers out there --- and to take special precautions when packing up your medications in blazing hot weather and freezing cold weather.

With my very best,
CYCLONE ~ Iowa State University
Posted 7/30/2018 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Well, hubby's PSA rose in July .... so he starts Zytiga now. I'm telling him to take the 4 pills when he gets up around 5 am to go to the bathroom .... then the pregnazone when he actually does get up with a glass of milk or toast. He doesn't eat breakfast ... just black coffee. I'm getting him some bananas and pedialyte and will keep after him to drink more water and not just ice tea. Any other helpful advice y'all can give me? Thanks, Lynn
Posted 8/3/2018 10:06 AM (GMT 0)
Started Zytiga 4 weeks ago and latest PSA was .86 which is double what it was 4 weeks ago (but blood draw was only 3 weeks after starting Zytiga).

Bit disappointing, but saw my MO today and he said not to expect any outcome for 6 to 8 weeks. I was aware of that, but was surprised to see a doubling in only 4 weeks. I do note that some brothers had an immediate response.

On the plus side, all other bloods were good as was blood pressure and he has reduced my prednisone down to 5mg. And for now at least I will continue to enjoy my glass of good Aussie red.

So far no increase in side effects from the standard ADT issues, which for me, have always been fairly minimal.

Next PSA in a month, so hoping for an improvement then.

Chas
Posted 8/10/2018 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a USMC veteran originally diagnosed with a Gleason 10 prostate cancer in 2010. I've had external beam radiotherapy, radioactive seeds and cryotherapy over the last 8 years including a six-month Lupron stint at the time of my original diagnosis. I did well for many years with my PSA dropping to virtually undetectable levels. Early this year, my PSA rose quickly from 3 to 166 and I was started on Lupron and Zytiga. I finally qualified for Zytiga due to some small omental nodes showing up on a CT scan in February. In the first month (May of 2018) my PSA dropped over 80% to 26, 1.99 at two months and, currently, 0.56 after 3 months. The cryotherapy was done in November of last year before the positive CT scan and after a biopsy revealing a recurrent Gleason 10 pathology involving 90% of the gland (similar to 2010 biopsy). Not many side effects except for being tired after an 8-hour workday.
Posted 8/10/2018 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the group Ricky. Great response to the ADT. I’m starting Zytiga next month and I’m hoping for a long remission.
Posted 8/30/2018 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
Update 8/29/18- Dan had his latest PSA test last week. Seems the Zytiga is doing its job. PSA went down to 1.0 and all his other labs were good. Very pleased. BTW ... he is not having any adverse reactions to the Zytiga and prednisone. I do contribute that to y'all .... I learned from y'all to give the Zytiga at exactly the same time every day (7 am) and make sure he drinks lots of water with it ... at 8:30 I wake him up and he takes the prednisone and eats a banana. I also make sure he has at least one glass of Pedialyte sometime during the day. Thanks for all your suggestions, seems to be working well. smile Lynn
Posted 8/30/2018 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
My Zytiga has sent my liver numbers off the charts. I stopped taking it last month. Finally my liver numbers are near normal and in a week or 2 I will restart zytiga at 3/4 strength. Bet my copay doesn't go down 25%.
Posted 8/31/2018 7:34 AM (GMT 0)
Just had my 2nd PSA after being on Zytiga for just 2 months.

First result after 4 weeks was disappointing with PSA doubling, but this latest test after 8 weeks showed slight improvement with decrease from .86 to .81, so maybe it is on the turn around.

Sorry to hear about your liver numbers GoBucks. Hope the new regime works better.

I have been lucky, all my bloods have been normal and side effects very manageable.

Chas
Posted 8/31/2018 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
Debbie - good news about Dan! And to all the comments about Gatorade and sugar we use sugar free Powerade but in so many forums you mention sugar free anything and you get slammed, so I tend to state the regular version and let people decide on their own which version they want. lol

GoBucks - you're copay probably won't change but the prescription will last longer!

Chask - sending positive thoughts.
Posted 9/12/2018 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
9/11/-a memorable day for a new start for me. My liver numbers all went to normal so I restarted zytiga + prednisone today. Zytiga dose reduced to 750mg. Hoping my liver loves the lower dose. Curious about my October PSA after being off zytiga almost 2 months. Hoping not to be kicked out of the zero club.
Posted 9/12/2018 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Go Bucks,
Dont worry, I am claiming undetectable for you again!
Wings, aka Friend of Mr. Zero
Posted 9/18/2018 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Any one had any mood change issues, which can occur with Prednisone?

I am not bi-polar but since going on the Zytiga (8/16/2018) my family noticed that at times I was short with some people and tended to get more annoyed at things -- things deserving of annoyance, just my reaction seemed amplified.

On the other end there are some times I feel absolutely great and will spontaneously say "I'm in a really good mood!"



**************************
On the Zytiga report, after Lupron and docetaxel my PSA hit a nadir of 0.7 and had been hanging there for four or five months. Had my prostate out. No PSA change. Started Zytiga and after two weeks it was 0.3 As of yesterday (1 month in) it is 0.19

Next up for me -- getting my bone mets zapped with radiation
Posted 9/18/2018 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
ANB - yes I have detected mood changes, if you can call them that. It used to be that when someone said something that did not set all that well with me I just let it run off my back. If it was a direct affront I either spoke up or walked away. Now, after a year and one-half of Zytiga and Prednisone, I go on the offensive/defensive, whichever the situation calls for. In any event things do not run off my back.

The other issue, taking Zytiga at same time each day, is that gospel? Maybe I need to become a hermit in a cabin in the lowlands. Dunno.
Posted 9/18/2018 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
I believe the mood changes are from the prednisone (roid rage). A psycho-pharmocologist told me that it was possible even on a 5mg/day.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12345678910

HealingWell

Connect With Us
© 1997-2024 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.