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Posted 11/7/2012 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Taxotera is no longer working for my husband after 10 sessions, Zytiga worked 8 weeks, now PSA is 1098 and CTC is 40. Next drug of choice is this new Xandi, cost is even higher than Zytiga (7,000 vs 8500) per month, hope we can afford copay without assistance.
Posted 11/7/2012 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
We are on a similar path - different order. My husband went from Taxotere (which worked initially), to Zytiga at $5,500 (didn't work at all), to now currently on Jevtana at @7,000 and the next suggested Xtandi - if covered. Will get a PSA report tomorrow and to a new Oncologist next Tuesday. Hope the next step for you is covered and works.
Posted 11/7/2012 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Let's keep in touch. My husband is on a similar path. Zytiga didn't work, taxotere didn't work, and he is on xtandi now. PSA began at 30, down to 11, and then up to 26. We have our appointment on Friday. I am hoping it will kick in. Right now, the side effects are fatigue and discomfort in the pelvic area. That actually may be because of the bulging discs. Be sure you understand the SEs of this drug. We learned later that spine compression is a SE.
We got the xtandi through a program offered by the drug company. Now it is FDA approved and we get it thru our insurance.
Passages, why a new oncologist? We are actually thinking of getting another opinion. Current oncologist wanted to dump us at our last appointment. That's somewhat rough but it's how we felt.
Best wishes to you both. I will check in again after Friday's appointment.
Posted 11/7/2012 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Our oncologist was great. Retiring to enjoy life and balance. Will miss him. He recommended our new one and the nurses said the new one was similar in spending time with patients. A little nervous about starting over, we'd been with ours since almost the beginning; although only periodically at first. It will be interesting to get another take, but it does seem as if, at this stage, the path is not too varied. Also interesting to get input on the Jevtana, since it seems not many on here have or are using it. Will appreciate all the input possible on Xtandi and how your husband is doing. Good luck with new Dr. And be waiting to hear how it went on Friday.
Posted 11/7/2012 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hugs - Jitters99, Passages, Nhwife.

I'm still on Zytiga and hoping to stay on it a long time. I think next would be the Xtandi. Will really appreciate knowing her all your hubbies are doing.

Hugs!

Bud

We will beat this crap
Posted 11/7/2012 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Many of the new drugs have programs that will provide financial assistance to men in need, Xtandi included. You should go to:
XTANDI Access Services (may be contacted Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET) at 1-855-8XTANDI (1-855-898-2634) or by visiting www.XtandiAccess.com.
Posted 11/8/2012 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
We have signed the paperwork for copay assistance, waiting to hear from company and pharmacy. We tried for assistance for Zytiga and was denied because we made 2,000.00 to much per year. He was also in the donut hole in Medicare so first 2 copays were 850.00 a month, then the third copay went down to 60.00, at that point it was no longer working so we gave the medication to our dr who in turn gave it to a patient that it was working for.
When this medication stops working, he said next was Jevtana, and after that liquid radiation...? I said another option was doing nothing and his statement was,within weeks of stopping treatments the pain would be so bad he would not be able to handle it..
I will be looking quickly for a cancer support group ASAP.
Posted 11/8/2012 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Bud and APC guy.

Jitters, the Jevtana has been good, as far as side effects. The PSA hasn't gone down, but is hasn't gone up. Didn't get our call today with yesterday's results *sigh*. With Zytiga he seemed to have even less se. Financially, he's on Medicare and TriCare and so far we've been totally covered. The main thing we are noticing more is the chemo brain - it's scaring him some. It seemed to get better after off Taxotere and on Zytiga. Our urologist told us awhile back if some of the health care changes went into effect, Lupron, etc. wouldn't be covered. Not sure where that came from or whether we will start getting denials - just because how expensive it is for time and palliative care and not a cure.

What is the liquid radiation? Haven't heard of that as an option for us.
Posted 11/8/2012 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Nhwife,

Nhwife, I'm a big advocate of several opinions. Glad to hear you are considering it.
Spine compression as a SE - ouch!
Good luck on Friday. You're always in my thoughts.

Passages and Jitters99,
I'm following your posts closely as Xtandi will be in our future.

Wishing you all peace and strength.

Zimac
Posted 11/8/2012 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
Xtandi might be in my immediate future. Had EXCRUCIATING side-effects from Zytiga and have stopped taking it (see my "Zytiga journey") thread.
Posted 11/8/2012 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
Sequoia ranger,
Sorry the SE so bad - guess Zytiga didn't work for you or my husband, but for different reasons. It appears what you are on now is at least maintaining. Wish you all could have something that worked more consistently, longer, with minimal side effects. It's so hard to watch and hear about what everyone is going through, but so blessed to have the time we still have and have had - mostly.
Posted 11/8/2012 11:10 AM (GMT 0)
Posted Today 5:08 AM (GMT -7) Edit post Delete post
New options are beginning to surface for widespread bone involvement. Bayer is currently conducting a trial of Radium 223 Dichloride (Alpharadin, a form of liquid radiation). The trial has been granted expanded access status. This means that some of the exclusionary criteria can be relaxed if necessary. Early results with respect to tumor shrinkage for this treatment are very promising. Test site locations are numerous throughout the country. This may not be an option for everyone with skeletal involvement but it bears investigating
[http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01516762?term=alpharadin&rank=10]

Jim
Posted 11/8/2012 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
What has been referred to as liquid radiation is also known as Alpharadin. It has completed phase III trials successfully and soon to be submitted to the FDA for approval. Our hope is that it will get approved in the first quarter of 2013.

While we are waiting for the approval the Early Access Committee of which I am a part has arranged with Bayer to make it available through another trial which ail monitor men receiving the drug to access any unexpected side effects.

The drug is designed to be used for men with castrate resistant prostate cancer who have multiple bone mets which can not be radiated with an external device because the man has already received to much radiation or there are too many different sites needing treatment. This is a systematic treatment instead of a localized treatment.

If you are interested in gaining early access to the treatment go to the advanced prostate cancer blog (advancedprostatecancer.net) and search for Alpharadin or go to the specific post at: http://advancedprostatecancer.net/?p=3521

For additional information about the treatment go to:http://advancedprostatecancer.net/?p=3289
Posted 11/8/2012 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Alpharadin is the newest and most promising entry in the"liquid radiation" approach to stalling the progression of PCa bone invasion. This may be my treatment path if my oncologist determines that my 2nd line HT agents (Ketoconazole and Leukine) are wearing out their welcome. Let's stay close to the feedback surrounding this interesting tool.

Jim
Posted 11/9/2012 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
APC Guy,
Do remember now checking Alpharadin - a couple issues, but main one was no metastasis in lung. Maybe some of the requirements will change.
Posted 11/11/2012 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
We received the Xtandia today, will start tomorrow. Our copay was $12.50, we are blessed, now let's hope it works! Going to read the articles on Liquid Radium now since it sounds like it will be in his future. We are back in CT., much colder than LV but it keeps his mind busy and he is much more active here.
Posted 11/11/2012 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Jitters,

Keep us up and how it goes. Prayers for the best results with the least SE.
Posted 4/10/2013 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hubby doesn't go until next week for third Radium 223, but with regards to it previously stopping the bone pain....the pain is back but in a different location..both clavicles and right arm down to elbow. Numerous lesions were found here (and to many other to list) on the CT scan done in Jan. before he started the radium. Dr has mentioned when he started radium he expected to only get 2-3 months of treatment AT BEST. I think Jevtana will be the next drug of choice which scares me because he as had WC issues before that almost killed him and he is over 65. I still do not see much on this forum with individuals that have tried Jevtana,or am I missing it?
Posted 4/10/2013 9:41 AM (GMT 0)
I haven't seen too much on that and that treatment may well be in our future too. I know it's a lot tougher on the system which scares me because my husband had a bad reaction after his first infusion of Taxotere. I am also understanding it can be really effective. Let's keep each other posted on this.
Posted 4/10/2013 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
My husband was on Jevtana - original reason I found this site, didn't help much on learning about Jevtana. He had no real difficulty on Jevtana. Looking back, he went from PSA @50 to 70. Now doesn't seem much, but a year ago stopped Taxotere when was 5.2. His mets did increase, but this Dr. not sure what medicine was the cause.

ANYWAY, I think each person is so individualistic, but Jevtana was not too bad. didn't lose hair :-) and had MUCH less side effects than the Taxotere and especially the Xtandi.
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