Didn't want to highjack Hummbugs thread, but thought he wouldn't mind on a little twist on the title. Its interesting how varied this disease is and how uncertain the treatment protocal is.
Anyway, I meet with petrylak yesterday- Summary of my situation first -- surgery in 2009, SRt in 2010 and started HT in 2011. Widespread METS, but negligable PSA. I have been on Zolodex (9 months before T levels started to rise), then Degarelix (about 1 year before T started to rise). Question is what to do now.
Spoke to Petrylak about the recent study indicating benefits to combining Docetoxel with HT. He felt the study was very very encouraging, but for now felt that it would be best for someone with more significant tumor burden (higher PSA) and should be started at the same time as HT, not 2 years after like me. Will continue to study it and is not ready to rule it out.
We started Lupron, but since I've already been on zolodex and degaralex, there isn't too much hope that another LHRH antagonist will work for very long. Then he said the word "surgery", and my jaw and spirits dropped. I have often been depressed during this journey but never like this. He then backed away and said, Abiraterone (zytiga). Dont know why complete chemical catration someone is less depressing than surgerical castration, but it is to me.
anyway, he has started the insurance approval process, on the assumption that Lupron will have limited or short term effectiveness.
to those of you who have been on Zytiga, any feedback on side effects would be appreciated.