Posted 4/10/2016 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Jannnett,
It's interesting to note that your message is reaching us here in the United State from the country of India --- it's pleasing to see that we have many international members here, from across the globe. We are all united together, helping each other, supporting each other, sharing our experiences, and offering a bit of advice.
It might encourage you to know that many members of our forum here HAVE gone through the chemotherapy treatments that you asked about, in regard to your father's case.
Typically, the first form of chemo infusions that would be used would be the chemotherapy known as TAXOTERE. Most often, each infusion is given once every 3 weeks, usually a total of 6 infusions --- so the series of treatments would last over the course of 18 weeks --- just about four months. In my case, I started my chemo treatments in the month of August and finished them up in the month of November, just to give you and your father an example.
Chemo treatments have become MUCH more common as a "frontline" treatment, since the medical studies known as the CHAARTED study and the STAMPEDE study were completed, which showed an important survival advantage for using chemo treatments in more advanced cases.
In my case, I started on the ADT hormone shots, which have also been used in your father's case. Specifically, I am on the ZOLADEX injections, just as your father has been. Others here are on LUPRON shots or FIRMAGON shots, all of which have the same goal as the ZOLADEX injections that your father and I are both taking at this time.
In my case, my doctors combined the ADT hormone shots WITH the chemotherapy infusions, to attack the cancer in TWO ways, instead of just one way. The chemo infusions attack some of the residual cancer cells that the ADT hormone shots can not fully attack. Adding chemo treatments can be an important step in the sequence of treatments for situations like your father's case. It's important to seek counsel from your father's doctors in all of these decisions, as each case is unique.
Many of us here have undergone chemo treatments and kept pursuing our full-time careers at the same time. Many of us here also kept pursuing our usual hobbies, pastimes, and volunteer projects during chemo treatments --- and even kept up with social events during the course of treatments. Researchers have worked diligently over time to LESSEN the side effects of chemo in recent years --- and have added components to the chemo infusions to lessen fatigue and reduce or eliminate nausea. If there is an allergic reaction to the chemo --- which is very rare --- they have antidotes for that, as well.
If your father pursues chemo treatments, it's important to stay in touch with family and friends. Support from neighbors, community members, & work colleagues can be very beneficial and uplifting. It's important to stay interested in the world around you --- staying interested in social events and exercise --- but also taking time to rest, as needed. Before and after each chemo infusion, it's essential to drink lots of water in the days BEFORE and AFTER each chemotherapy infusion to help your body tolerate each treatment better and to flush out the toxins after each treatment.
I thought you would find it both helpful and hopeful to hear directly from someone who has already undergone chemo treatments. I finished up my chemo treatments almost two years ago now, and I went to work every single day during my course of treatments. While I know that there can be a variance in side effects for each patient, I was fortunate to have very mild side effects during my chemo treatments. I ALSO have several close friends of mine who have also gone through the same treatments in recent months. We all made the decision to pursue chemo treatments as ANOTHER way to attack our cancer, after careful deliberation and careful consultations with our doctors.
If your father undergoes chemo treatments, it will be essential that he stays in close contact with his doctors during that time. They will monitor your father's condition carefully. My doctors watched over my lab levels and monitored all my lab results VERY carefully, to maintain my health during those months I was receiving chemo treatments --- to avoid infections, fevers, lowered immune system levels, and so forth.
In addition to chemotherapy treatments, your father ALSO has the promise of using newer breakthrough treatments such as XTANDI, ZYTIGA, and XOFIGO, which have been approved in very recent times. These are available now as ADDITIONAL weapons that can help your father in the future ! Your father's doctors should be able to advise him on the potential benefit of these treatments, as they consider your father's case.
I want to wish you and your father the VERY best. Thank you for keeping in touch with us here --- as you can see, we have members from across the globe contributing to this website !
My best to you, Jannnett, and your father ~ from across the miles to your home in India ~
"Cyclone" From Iowa State University