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Posted 4/28/2013 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
I had my 1st treatment two weeks ago this past Friday. I was Benadryl and Tylenol 30 minutes before the infusion. Body temp at the start was 98.7. Approximately 30 minutes and half way into the treatment I develop sever chills that were uncontrollable. My body temp jump to 102.7 in 30 minutes. More meds per I.V. and a ride in the ambulance to ER. I spent the night in the hospital.

I had such a reaction that my Dr feels very uncomfortable in giving me another treatment. On my side it was scary. I am a nurse and know to look for reactions to blood products.

Just wondering if others have had similar reactions?
Posted 4/28/2013 7:39 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the site... Guessing you've seen this:

As with all advanced prostate cancer treatments, there are potential risks associated with PROVENGE. Side effects are generally mild to moderate and most lasted only a day or two for the men who took part in the clinical study. In clinical trials, only 1.5% of the men discontinued their treatment with PROVENGE because of side effects.

The most common side effects of PROVENGE prostate cancer treatment include:

Chills
Fatigue
Fever
Back pain
Nausea
Joint ache
Headache

In clinical studies, some men experienced more serious side effects:

Chest pain
Racing heartbeat
Irregular heartbeat
Dizziness
Nausea
Vomiting
www.provenge.com/side-effects.aspx?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=provenge%2Bside%2Beffects&utm_content={OVADID}&utm_campaign=BR%2B-%2BSide%2BEffects_Ex&Adid=1520745893
Posted 4/28/2013 10:37 AM (GMT 0)
Some of those side effects can happen in some patients with using Leukine and Leukine is used within Provenge, although I don't know those details, perhaps Todd knows much more on that type of thing. I had similar side effects back in January when using Leukine+Keto+estradiol, high temp. and huge fatigue, chills, ended up with 4 days in hospital, such fun.
Posted 4/28/2013 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry to hear that you got clobbered with the SE's.

When I had the Provenge treatments, the nurses started two different IV's so if I began a severe reaction like you had they were ready with the injection to counter the SE's. I have the standard three treatments before my RRP and then was randomly selected for a fourth treatment as part of a study that I participated in. I don't don't what the nurse had in the syringe ready to go if I did react like you did, but wondering if your infusion clinic was not prepared. I am sure you could find out by emailing Dendreon and asking them to see what they have recommended to have available if one does have the SE's.

yes I got the chills, fatigue and probably had a fever but I never checked it when the chills began.

If they do have something to counter the SE at the time of the infusion, and your clinic did not have it ready, I hope you could have the remaining treatments, only if they could control the suffering. Sorry to hear of your experience.
Posted 4/29/2013 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Socopete,

Sorry to hear about your severe SE.

Devestated1 gave you very good advice, special because it is from person who had Provenge treatment and has first hand experience.



You can also look at this personal blog when patient just posted couple days ago about his experience with Provenge :

psa2640.blogspot.com/

It will be sad if you can't finish the remaining treatments because you really can benefit from it.

Dr. Freedland compared prostate cancer to a runaway train going over a broken bridge and immunotherapy is going to slow this train down.

I noticed that patients who received Provenge first and after move to other treatments like HT or Zytiga, Chemo, Xtandi usual have outstanding result from these drugs.

It is support Dr. EISENBERGER words:

" I just want to point out something we haven’t emphasized here. In our cancer immunology program, dealing with immunotherapies, one of the focuses is timing of immunotherapy. It’s possible that the interaction between immunomodulation and other treatments may be important. For instance, immunizing a patient before you give hormonal therapy, before you give chemotherapy. So it is also possible that immunotherapy may enhance subsequent treatment..."

But the most important patients who received Provenge live longer then patients who don't have it.

I hope you and your doctor will find solution how to deal with SE .

My best to you.

Post Edited (HOPENEVERDIE) : 4/29/2013 1:57:42 PM (GMT-6)

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