Update on husband-not good?

Hi everyone,
I am very new to these boards, but wanted to update on my husband Bob, and also see if anyone can offer any clarification or just thoughts. Bob was diagnosed last October at age 56 with PC with a G9, and PSA of 1260, bone mets and heavy liver involvement. He went thru chemo with Taxotere/Carboplatin and had an excellent response, although his PSA has never gone below 20. He has also been on Lupron since the beginning. Follow up scans thru July showed no new growth, and PSA steady at around 20. Three weeks after his July scans that were good, and PSA of 20, he felt hip pain at one of the sites of heavy bone mets. Doc decided to give a radiation dose to the hip, but at that time his PSA had jumped to 28. Doc decided to put him back on chemo, this time Taxol/Carboplatin. He started this last Friday. He will have 3 on, 1 week off for 3 months. After 2 months, doc says if his PSA goes down 80%, he will get strontium 89, NOT Radium 223. His doctor came from MD Anderson a couple years ago, and we really like and trust him. 10 days ago he started getting bad bone pain on his other hip. He cannot have radiation to that site while on chemo. By the way, the one shot of radiation to the other hip 3 weeks ago has really helped!

I am so worried. What does all this mean? How effective is a 2nd round of chemo? Is there anything else that can be done at this point besides chemo? Doc mentioned enzalutimide after the chemo.

Teamchris I hope your husband is doing well. It sounds like yours and mine are facing some of the same things sadly. I have a question for you-why do you say the PSA is no longer an indicator?

Thanks everyone for any input or comments you have for me!

The bone mets do cause pain but I think the liver mets are a great threat. They could possibly be treated with CyberKnife radiation or selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT).

George

Hello Kitty19,

This is a tremendous place to visit for information ... a place to share treatment experiences ... gain knowledge ... seek support ... and network with others across the globe.

It sounds like a very proactive plan is being put in place ... it sounds like your husband's doctors are "rolling up their sleeves" and getting started on a new plan of ACTION.

I have several friends who now share a diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer, right alongside me. A couple of them are now pursuing a second SERIES of chemotherapy treatments, just as you mentioned in your case. Both of my friends are experiencing treatment success with this second series of chemo treatments ... and they are staying active with family, friends, activities, and careers ... even though they are facing cases of prostate cancer characterized by complexities.

In my case, I've already gone through a series of chemo treatments ... and other friends of mine have done the same ... from there, several of us have then started taking either XTANDI or ZYTIGA.

Just wanted to send you a message of support, from across the miles. Stay in close communication with your husband's medical team ... keep facing forward ... remember the importance of family, friends, and faith, in whatever form that takes for you ... stay positive ... stay determined ... stay focused on daily goals ... and keep in touch with us here on the forum !

Sent with my best,
"Cyclone Fan" ~ Iowa State University