PSA 91,Xtandi failed, Zytiga then Chemo ?

Well , after fighting Pca since 2002 and Colon cancer (caused by SRT) since 2012.....it looks like my Pca has decided to get very nasty. My full time attention to Pca got diverted while dealing first with liver then lung mets ( both from the colon cancer) . Both of these were thought to be a much greater threat to my life. While I was busy with major surgeries and chemo ,I was switched to Xtandi but didn't follow up as closely as I should and now I am in a heck of a mess with my PSA from 3/21 @ 90.9 !!!! It was 5.0 last October. I did start Zytiga on 3/22 and can only hope I get a response....I will be following my Pca much closer for sure !! I let the monster loose and now I can only hope to get some degree of control over it. I am very angry with myself but dealing with metastatic colon cancer has been a full time job. If the Zytiga doesn't work then onto chemo. I had 17 rounds of chemo with my colon cancer so not looking forward to chemo again. Thanks to all of you who posted about their experiences with chemo here....it will surely help when I reach that point.

I guess things could be worse... I am still standing but feeling truly beat up,discouraged.....but the fight will go on.

I hope the new medications work for you. So does SRT cause colon cancer?

Hello Ziggymonster,

Just wanted to reach out and send my support to you --- you're definitely a veteran, and you've been in the trenches of warfare for a while, soldier ---

Sounds like you've got a proactive plan of action. Stay in close connection with your medical team --- plan out those questions that you have before each consultation --- make sure you have a great medical team in place --- seek out the very best ! We all deserve that, every single one of us !

I did chemo treatments first, then went on over to ZYTIGA about eight months ago --- there's a band of us here on ZYTIGA --- drink PLENTY of water as you take the ZYTIGA pills each day, and water in between each of those four large pills.

As you know, ZYTIGA has to be taken on an empty stomach --- no food two hours before you take the pills, and no food for an hour after you take the pills. You will also have to take a couple of very, very small prednisone steroid pills each day, and those are to be taken with food. The little steroid pills help your body tolerate the ZYTIGA pills each day.

I hope you get a response to ZYTIGA --- your doctor will meet with you frequently, because lab levels have to be monitored while you are taking ZYTIGA. In my case, I have to go in every 28 days for lab work and a consultation with my primary oncologist, just to make sure my lab levels are staying intact with the ZYTIGA --- and we continue to monitor P.S.A. levels and testosterone levels each month, to stay on top of the game.

Yes, keep chemo treatments in your "back pocket" as a future weapon of defense --- it's there, whenever you might find yourself in need. Chemo can provide a powerful "blast" that attacks stubborn cancer cells.

With the colon cancer you've battled, and then prostate cancer --- you've got a case characterized by some intricacies and complexities, from what you've shared in your posts. I realize you've been fighting a two-headed, fire-breathing dragon these past few years, Ziggymonster. Double BADGE OF COURAGE awarded to you, in all that you have faced !

Keep us posted on your case --- take care of yourself --- keep taking your treatments one step at a time --- keep your head in the game --- keep living life to the fullest each day --- stay connected with family and friends --- and consult carefully with your medical team.

We're here for you, Ziggymonster --- loyal support and the power of brotherhood to be found right here !

Stay strong in the battle ... keep facing forward !
"Iowa State Cyclone Team Fan"

ziggymonster, you are a warrior for sure. Those battling cancer, and I mean battling, can look to you for inspiration. One skirmish, one battle, after another. Wow.

For those concerned about colon cancer after radiation therapy it does happen, though it like everything must be considered in the balance of all PCa treatment risks. Perhaps our knowledgeable Tall Allen has some links.

The British Medical Journal just published results of a "meta study", a study of 21 other studies on this exact topic. This kind of study has its limitations; it's rather like some professionals did a literature search for you and summarized it nicely. Not a proper study of its own, but the conclusions can be useful.

Here's a link to a nice summary of the BMJ study. loudounoncology.com/2016/03/14/radiotherapy-for-prostate-cancer-increases-risk-of-secondary-cancers/ Bottom line, yes there is a definite increase in colorectal cancer risk, but the actual risk remains small. FTA: "Overall the research suggests that up to one extra person in 200 will develop bladder cancer because of radiotherapy over a 10 year period, and around one in 100 for bowel and rectal cancer.. So an absolute colon cancer risk increase of 1%. It does happen, and my heart goes out to you ziggymonster; that's a terrible card to pull from the deck.

For my very high risk case, we selected RT+ADT2, considering these added risks to be acceptable for my case. I've said that I would be happy to be here 5 to 9 years after treatment to worry about such risk. My particular numbers at diagnosis were rather worrisome, and secondary risks that far out were a ways down the list of my concerns at the time.

Here's the full BMJ article with the details: www.bmj.com/content/352/bmj.i851

Ziggy I empathize completely with your discouragement. You have been through far more than I. I hope you find something that gives you a bit of a respite from this stuff.

Best to you.
Don