Results of appt with Dr. Turner

I really like Dr. Turner, we had a great appt.

Although I had only dropped my records off with them on Monday, it was clear that he had read through it all and was totally prepared to discuss my cancer situation.

He said that "they" had discussed it, so I am assuming that he had talked with Scholz and Lam.

Bottom line is I have two best options.

1> Since I qualify for Provenege, it would be that and Xtandi added to the Lupron.

2> The is a clinical trial for Provenege and Ipilimumab (try to pronounce that one. I am doing research on Ipi as they refer to it. But my understanding that it is also along the lines of immunotherapy, but from a different angle. I will let you more knowledgeable folks chime in on that one.

Zytiga and drugs along that line are not viable since I failed on TAK700.

If I go the Provenege- Xtandi route I can do that at home at my cancer center.

The trial brings with it some logistical issues. There are only two locations, San Francisco and Houston. It would require me to be at the location for about 5-6 weeks initially and then repeat visitis every 3 weeks in the beginning and then monthly for a number of months.

I believe that the trial would have to offer some dramatic possibilities for it to make sense from a logistical standpoint.

I will continue to research and discuss this with my Onco when I return home.

But first I have to get this hernia repaired. My biggest concern right at the moment is that any or all of this may interfere with our planned trip to NY for GFMPH.

They did do a PSA test yesterday, it will be interesting what it will show given that I stopped taking the TAK700 last week. I will post the results of that test in this thread when I get them.

You folks all have a blessed "Bonus Day" and thanks for your continued caring and support.

Sonny

Sonny,
I had a hernia repaired in 1996 and I was in bed for a couple of days at home, out patient surgery. They may have quicker recovery now.

I don't know how you will feel driving the RV to NY right away. You may have to rest a little longer.

Having lived in the SF Bay Area and Houston, you would probably better off at Houston if you are bringing the RV to stay in. Great medical centers in Houston.

Bill from Florida

Hernia surgery shouldn't be too bad. My brother in law had both sides done and played golf two days later........he said the bourbon helped!

I had hernia surgery in 1988.
It was not done with a laproscope. Full cut. I went back to work 2 weeks later. It was December and I had a 3-day work week and then Xmas break. It was a tough 3 days, but I was fine after the break.

Can they do the surgery laparoscopically?

(Can you tell I have no idea how to spell that, but who cares -- you get my drift)?

I hear that is better, but I think after our surgery they cannot do it.

Mel

Mel and Sonny,
Mine was done laparoscopically in 1996. Before my Da Vinci, Dr. Patel looked at the scar to see if the previous surgery would present a problem with my Da Vinci.

I was concerned when I was going to have the AUS installed because I had the hernia repaired on the right side where the AUS was going in. The doctor said that would not be a problem.

Now I have a hernia scar, AUS scar in my belly and the Da Vinci scar above my navel. With "Little Wille" not quite the same, I am beginning to look pretty beat up down there.

Bill from Florida

Sonny, yuou have probably already done a forum search on Ipilumimab but for benefit of others, here's a thread where Hopeneverdies posted about it

www.healingwell.com/community/?f=35&m=2487796&p=5

Hopeneverdies' posts are long but informative.

Wampuscat also started a thread about Ipi clinical trials back in Feb. Knowing Marie, she probably researched it pretty thoroughly and you may want to talk to her and Jim about it

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=3002147

Apparently the trial Jim is in for Prostavac has been tested tith ipilumimab

"Both PROSTVAC and GVAX have been tested in phase I clinical trials in combination with ipilimumab, and have shown promising results."

www.cancerresearch.org/prostate-cancer

It will be interesting to see how this drug's successes in treating melanoma translate to PCa.

Dr Myers' weekly video talks about Xtandi being about 5 times more powerful than Casodex, plus safer than Casodex (5% chance of liver damage with latter) to answer Mels' question

/askdrmyers.wordpress.com/

LupronJim

Sonny:

I assume your hernia surgery is not on the 25th. Just the appointment?

Is it an umbilical hernia, incisional hernia, or inguinal hernia.

I have been having some intestinal issues, but also pain in the abdominal area. Doctor did not find any clear evidence of a hernia.

I had an inguinal hernia repaired eons ago.

I will be curious what your surgeon says about the type of surgery (scope/open) and if he will use a mesh.

Mel

Sonny3 said...
Well this is getting interesting.

Dr. Turner called this morning and my PSA came in at 8.85.

Now I know, different labs, time of day, etc., but in 1 week I have 11.9, 10.8, and now 8.85.

Is it any wonder that I chose to wait on HT until there was some evidence (through testing and scans) that there was a target to shoot at with HT.

This does throw a little wrinkle from the standpoint that I have to have 2 consecutive rises to qualify for Provenge.

For the time being I am sticking with the plan to have a PSA Sep 5th at my Onco's labs where it has been done for the last 5 years. I will leave on my NY trip on the 8th and get all of my team together mid October when I return.

In the meantime, I have an appt with a surgeon on Monday the 25th to take care of this hernia.

Today's "Bonus Day" sure started off on a good note for me. Haven't had a chance to tell Sherry yet, but I am sure it will make her day better also.

Thank you all for your support and suggestions. I have a lot of research to do for sure.

You folks get out there and choke the life out of the day,

Sonny

That's interesting Sonny. I had always heard that Turner's PSA tests run a little on the high side.

You may still be able to qualify for Provenge as Dr. Turner does not have to disclose this new PSA score if you have two previous increases at least 14 days apart. He can use whatever metrics best make his case.

Also, I have not gone back to look at your prior metrics, but seems to me this new PSA result is not 25% higher than the prior one on TAK700 trial. If you chose, could you get back into that trial?

As I mentioned in the voice mail I left you, I exchanged emails with Dr Turner yesterday regarding my case and he shared that enjoyed having seen you as a new patient.

I told him between you, the WorryWarts, me, the Wampuscats, Ray the SteelGuy and Mel a/k/a Compiler, and probably many more, Scholz/Lam/Turner have quite a fan club on HealingWell.

Take care of that annoying hernia on the 25th and see you in Rochester.

LupronJim