Husband's Latest PSA after starting Zytiga

My guy's PSA is now 4.20, down from 7.58 in late November, 2018.

Below is my husband's signature showing his history. Due to rapid doubling in PSA Summer 2018, he restarted Lupron in September, 2018 then added Zytiga/Prednisone 2/9/2019, three weeks ago. While the PSA is going in the right direction, we hoped it would be lower and had gone down faster after the Lupron re-start. (We're aware than in newly diagnosed high risk men, PSA going down gradually to initial nadir is better than going down too fast. Is this still true for metastatic men?)

He got yesterday's report after our visit with his oncologist, so we didn't get a chance to discuss if this is a decent drop. Zytiga probably hasn't truly kicked in. He's only been on it three weeks. BTW, at least for now, my husband has no additional side effects than the usual fatigue and mild hot flashes he's had on the Lupron.

Question to mods: Should this posting also go into the Zytiga thread? I put it here because I'm updating the gang in general. Thanks, Everyone. Hope you're doing well.

good news on the PSA.

Tell everyone!!!

Hello Spouse21,

I think it's great that the LUPRON is already kicking in, decreasing the PSA score.

Meanwhile, adding the ZYTIGA should hopefully start chipping away at the PSA, as well.

Hoping for a synergistic effect, with the LUPRON working together with ZYTIGA --- giving the PSA a double-barreled shotgun approach to the PSA numbers.

Yes, I also have found that drinking water, along with each of my four daily ZYTIGA pills seems to help me. I have other friends who experienced a mild level of nausea while taking the four 250 milligram tablets consecutively.

In my case, I learned a personal lesson the hard way … one morning, rushing around, I wolfed down all four ZYTIGA pills, because I was running behind. about an hour later, I paid a price for that … I experienced the "dry heaves" about an hour later and KNEW it was my own fault for taking the pills too quickly, one right after the other, right away in the morning, without drinking enough water in between. It's a cautionary tale that I have shared on this website.

So now, I take the pills a little more carefully, during my morning "getting ready for the day" routine … I now start with some water, then take the first pill, with a bit more water.

In my case, I simply space the timing out between the four pills, just a bit, while getting my morning started, with sips of water in between all four of the ZYTIGA pills. When I am finished, I take another couple of sips of water.

All of us tend to be dehydrated first thing in the morning, so a few sips of water, taken before, during, and after consumption of all four ZYTIGA tablets seems to help, in my case.

It has been an easy ritual to follow, and I have never experienced the nausea that I did that one morning, when I was in a hurried rush. Lesson learned from that day, that's for sure. I have been on ZYTIGA continuously now for over 40 months, every single day, and this is my daily ritual.

Here's hoping ZYTIGA added to your LUPRON regimen has a mighty impact on your PSA, going forward. Continue to post, and let us know how you are faring!

With my very best, from across the miles,
CYCLONE ~ Iowa State University