ZYTIGA: Our Collective Experiences

Good luck Mrs BD. Next month will be 2 years on 3/4 dose. All <0.01.

Hi Mrs. BD,

My dad started abiraterone on August 10, 2019.

His SGPT/ALT:
August 09, 2019: 32
September 06, 2019: 34
November 06, 2019: 140
November 21, 2019: 54

His SGOT was not measured in November 2019, but his other liver enzymes increased as well

Total Bilirubin:
August 09, 2019: 0.49
September 06, 2019: 1.03
November 06, 2019: 1.70
November 21, 2019: 0.90

The MO stopped abiraterone for 15 days due to the increase in liver enzymes reported on November 06, 2019, re-checked liver enzymes on November 21, 2019 and then advised to re-start abiraterone at a lower dose of 750 mg. He has since remained on the 750 mg dose with liver enzymes in the normal range.

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03910660 - I've attached the Clinical trial.

Hi all, been a while since I posted, but it is now time to provide an update

I started on Zytiga in July 2018 when my PSA was .46 and slowly rising since starting Zoladex in March 2016. Zytiga was accompanied with Prednisone and I tolerated both quite well. All bloods continued to be very good though PSA continued to rise but quite slowly so stuck with it until September 2020 when PSA reached 4.0.

Recent bone scan showed only 2 mets, one on a rib and the other on my scapula.

Onco decided to try the switch to Dexamethasone in the hope it would kick the Zytiga along. Have to say I found the SE’s from Dexa much worse with severe leg cramps, lack of sleep and a continual fight with weight gain. (Weight gain before Dexa was not a major issue).

Well after just 2 months I just got the latest PSA and it has jumped to 10 and liver bloods have jumped up considerably, so very disappointing. Though can’t really complain after getting well over 2 years on Zytiga.

Have an Onco appt later this week and expect next move will be Chemo. However I will be ditching the Dexa tonight and reverting to Prednisone.

Stay safe everybody. We are fortunate that here in Australia, we have virtually no active Coronovirus, thanks to Federal Govt getting onto the issue very quickly, and the public being generally very responsible.

Chask

Post Edited (Chask) : 11/15/2020 10:36:56 PM (GMT-7)

Had appt today with Onco. Zytiga seems to be failing after just over 2 years.

First thoughts were to start Chemo immediately, but thanks to the wiz kids on this site, and what I have learned from them, I asked if it would be worthwhile having a PSMA scan to determine exactly how many, and where Mets may be. If only a couple (and last basic CT scan only identified 2) then it may be possible to zap those with radiation and thus delay start of Chemo.

Realise that there is a school of thought that says start Chemo early, but Onco agreed that was a good option, not least because some of the clinical trials here in Australia into use of Lutetium exclude patients who had already had chemo.

So PSMA on 1 December and hopefully only a couple of mets so we can buy more time before Chemo becomes essential. And possibly inclusion in a Lutetium trial at no cost.

Current Aussie costs for Lutetium is A$7000 per session. PSMA scan $700.

All other treatments including SBRT is free. Onco costs all free. No insurance required.

In the meantime carry on with Zytiga/Prednisone. (Ditched Dexamethasone)

Feeling good, no symptoms other than usual hormone deficiency, and they are tolerable.

Best wishes to all.

GoBucks,
Hang in there brother, you are doing great! You once called me a PC Hero, well, did I ever tell you you are MY hero and the wind beneath my wings!!!! You inspire me!
The movie and song have rather sad endings, we are not anywhere near that now so don't be put off, and actually it's a love song!
https://youtu.be/0iazmrkfx3c
Wings

We have a comrade here who is starting on ZYTIGA ---- now available in generic form as ABIRATERONE ACETATE.

New experiences with ZYTIGA are certainly welcomed on this active thread.

Bumping this to the top, for our comrade.

Best to all ----
CYCLONE ••• # Iowa State University

Post Edited (Cyclone-ISU) : 7/16/2021 6:17:13 PM (GMT-6)

I had a good run with Zytiga, but it now is failing me. I am moving onto Xtandi. Best of luck to you guys who remain on it. I will update here my progress with Xtandi.

I have been on Zytiga (now Abiraterone) for 44 months. I take 750 mg. Still <0.01. Grateful to be a great responder.
P.S. on the edit: I didn't realize that I had posted here very recently #lupron #zytiga #brainfogday

Hello, Bohemond ----

I just went to my shelf, where my empty ZYTIGA bottles are lined up --- including the newer generic version bottles now available --- ABIRATERONE ACETATE.

All in all, there are 75 bottles lined up. Just wanted to share this with you!

At the oncology treatment center where I am seen by my oncologist, I was the first fellow there to start ZYTIGA.

My oncologist shared quiet hope that ZYTIGA would have the potential to help me.

My experiences led to other fellows receiving the same prescription, as months went by. Mayo Clinic then asked if they could track my case, and I agreed to become part of an ongoing data study.

I'm a teacher --- I started ZYTIGA at the beginning of a school year. In time, I had nine empty ZYTIGA bottles lined up on a shelf --- and I realized ZYTIGA had helped me through an entire school year cycle!

Since I started the medication --- it has since carried me through six school YEARS!

It's to the point where I am starting to double-stack empty ZYTIGA bottles on that shelf.

I am grateful, every day, looking at that shelf.

ZYTIGA --- and now its approved generic version ---- ABIRATERONE ACETATE --- has now been helping fellows for about a decade!

My best to you, Bohemond!

CYCLONE --- # Iowa State University

Thank you all for this thread, just got done reading every post! I had my first shot of Lupron on 10/29/21 and had labs done yesterday to see if I'm good to go on Zytiga. Labs came back all normal so I will be starting the Zytiga ASAP, possibly this week.

I had RALP in May 2021 and my PSA after 3 months was 1.4, hence the Lupron and now the Med Onc is adding Zytiga. I had the 'eyes to thighs' PSMA PET scan which lit up one pelvic lymph node. I will start a 6 week course of RT in January where they will cover my entire pelvic region and give some extra love to the offending lymph node.

So far I have only had some mild hot flashes from the Lupron and I'm a little more tired than normal. Not to bad, but I know it's early. I'm struggling a bit thinking about having to go through all this, and having to be on HT for at least a couple years, so it helps reading all your stories. Trying not to get too depressed about it.

I will check back on this thread to let everyone read about my experience with the Lupron/Zytiga/Prednisone

Good to hear Bohemond. I'm thinking the Zytiga will do the job.

Happy holidays