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Other Chemo than Taxotere for PCa?

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Posted 6/12/2017 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I am here for my dear father who has been diagnosed with metastasic PCa in December 2016.
Just wanted to check with you guys who have been through chemo for PCa treatment.
My father is going to have 12 sessions of Taxotere, so far 3 out of 12 were done.
Is there any different chemo drug in the market for this disease? As far as I learned here the second treatment will be radiotherapy along with AHT(?!)

Please share your experiences, thank you all. smile
Posted 6/12/2017 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
There are different types of chemo to treat prostate cancer but they generally follow a certain line of progression or cancer type before they are prescribed. The side effects from chemo generally only last a few days and then recovery begins. It can be challenging but it is certainly doable.
Posted 6/12/2017 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
Cabazitaxel (Jevtana) is also sometimes used..Recent studies have shown that chemo is more effective when used first rather than last...HT is the standard treatment for advanced PC...It's usually very effective for a period of time..There is no cure at this stage, treatment is aimed at buying time....Zytiga and Xtandi are two drugs that can work very well but they are not approved until HT begins to fail...This may change as more research is done....How old is Dad?
Posted 6/12/2017 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you guys, my dad is 69. He has Jevtana in his chemo cocktail list too.
Posted 6/12/2017 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
@ fairwind: Does it mean Zytiga and Xtandi are more aggressive?
Posted 6/12/2017 4:39 PM (GMT 0)

Hello FARZ53,

Since your dad is starting a series of TAXOTERE treatments, at the current time, we have some insight that could truly help him navigate through his series of treatments.

Many of us here have gone through a series of TAXOTERE treatments ... our experiences have been collected on a thread that would be helpful to your dad ...

At the top of your screen, you will see a SEARCH BOX.

In the SEARCH BOX, type in this thread title, as follows: "TAXOTERE SIDE EFFECTS" ...

The thread will pop up immediately ... there you will find a lot of helpful insight that you can share with your dad ... you can print off paper copies, if that is helpful ...

The thread contains a lot of helpful tips ... ways to avoid or mitigate side effects ... ways to help yourself "rebound" after each treatment ... what to expect as your treatments continue ... and even what to expect AFTER all the chemo treatments have concluded.

Hope this thread suggestion will help you and your dad, as you navigate through his ongoing TAXOTERE treatments ...

Handshake, support, best wishes,
Iowa State University "Cyclone"
Posted 6/12/2017 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
The Zytiga and Xtandi (they both work in a similar fashion,) are both VERY expensive, so insurance companies including Medicare resist paying for them unless strict rules are followed. Hormone therapy on the other hand is relatively cheap and it works very well for a period of time, 1 year, 5 years, sometimes more, so they "save" the Zytiga and Xtandi until the HT stops working...These drugs are not a substitute for HT....You must keep taking the Lupron (or whatever) for the duration..Is your Dad taking a drug called "Casodex" (bicalutamide) now?
Posted 6/12/2017 6:37 PM (GMT 0)

Fairwind said...
Recent studies have shown that chemo is more effective when used first rather than last


I think this is the case here, since he is diagnosed as metastatic, probably bone mets. So they start with Docetaxel which is a valid option according to the NCCN guidelines and then follow up with ADT combined with radiation. I think this treatment plan makes good sense.

George
Posted 6/13/2017 7:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for all the valuable advice/ info.
@ George: You are absolutely right.
@ Fairwind: So that is the reason why. I didn't know that. He is under chemo (Taxotere, Cabazitaxel) and 2 more (don't remember their names). The only pill he takes is prednisolone (steroid).
about starting with chemo, I think his doctor is a professional and we do trust his decisions.
Chemo is also expensive in our country, so I need to know if he would have another cycle or they may probably put him on some oral pills/ radiation after this 12-session cycle.
@ ISU-CycloneFan:I will check it out. Thanks so much indeed.So far except for sweating and temporary problems on the tongue, he didn't experience any side effect. His RBC is also lower than normal which is not severe as per his doctor's opinion. He is doing fine.
I am so happy I find this place. My father doesn't speak English. You are all helping him through all your experiences/ knowledge/ advices.
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