HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

ADT and SRT Journey Part 2

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic locked
1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/24/2018 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Didn't take long for the Lupron to start working on SP hey? ha ha!! Hope everyone had a good week!


Larry
Posted 3/25/2018 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
To AZ Guy, garyi, Skypilot56, Zzarth, TallAllen, etc.

Here's an update on my Triple Play. 39 sessions of SRT start next Monday at NW Memorial in Chicago. I began Lupron and Casodex in January. The most noticeable SEs are flashes but those are manageable. My PSA was a surprisingly low .01 last week. It was .24 in December. Is that the power of hormones ? Can I skip the SRT ?

My last post on this earlier thread was on December 30, 2017. Thanks to everybody for sharing.
Posted 3/25/2018 10:23 PM (GMT 0)

Forecaddie said...


Here's an update on my Triple Play. 39 sessions of SRT start next Monday at NW Memorial in Chicago. I began Lupron and Casodex in January. The most noticeable SEs are flashes but those are manageable. My PSA was a surprisingly low .01 last week. It was .24 in December. Is that the power of hormones ? Can I skip the SRT ?

Excellent question, Forecaddie....I don't know confused

Like you, I've been on Casodex and Lupron for three months, and I finally start 39 sessions (1.8Gy) tomorrow. Having delayed the start of RT do I continue Casodex for the next two or three months confused My RO is unsure.

My Lupron/Eligard was a six month shot, so that's a done deed.

I was .54 in December and was .07 in mid February.
Posted 3/25/2018 11:36 PM (GMT 0)

Forecaddie said...
My PSA was a surprisingly low .01 last week. It was .24 in December. Is that the power of hormones ? Can I skip the SRT?

One of the guys you named may know better than I do, but my understanding is that HT just keeps the PSA low so the cancer won't grow, but does not kill the cancer. The radiation is what kills cancer.
Posted 3/25/2018 11:42 PM (GMT 0)

RobLee said...
.....my understanding is that HT just keeps the PSA low so the cancer won't grow, but does not kill the cancer. The radiation is what kills cancer.

That is my understanding also. HT softens it up, and RT knocks it out....hopefully. smile
Posted 3/26/2018 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
Forecaddie--
I don't think Tall Allen follows this thread regularly. If you want to get his attention, perhaps re-post your question in a new thread, with an appropriate subject line, or e-mail him directly.
If Allen had answered you already, I'm sure I'd just shut up and accept his word on this as gold. But since he hasn't yet, I'll take a stab at it. (No offense, Garyi and RobLee -- didn't notice you'd posted already while I was typing this.)
My limited understanding is that SRT is the standard of care for aggressive, locally advanced PCa regardless of how your PSA initially reacts to ADT alone. The ADT weakens the cancer cells and makes them more susceptible to disruption and eventual death from RT.
How long is the plan for you to stay on Lupron and on Casodex? Most of us are only on Casodex for the first 30 days, to mitigate against testosterone flares. But there's a therapy called maximal androgen blockade (MAB) that keeps you on Casodex the whole time you're on Lupron. Also, recent research suggests that the addition of Zytiga (abiraterone) at the start of ADT can have a significant effect on failure-free survival.
If you were to drop RT for some reason, you should consult with an MO about possibly adding MAB or Zytiga.
Posted 3/26/2018 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
The only thing I can add is that the ADT stops the cancer from growing any more and sometimes the cells just die then. My team at MAYO said the same as SP so i would guess with your low psa you guys wouldn't have to continue the Casodex route but that's just my opinion. Another thing they told me is that later on I might need Casodex and by not using it right away I wouldn't build up a resistance to it. I'm hoping of course that day never comes!!

Larry
Posted 3/26/2018 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to wish the best for you guys starting treatment tomorrow!!! No Coffee before treatment !! LOL

Larry
Posted 3/26/2018 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Well into my PCa journey, and my first radiation treatment was a pleasure. The Varian Edge equipment was fast, accurate and quiet. The facility and staff at Cleveland Clinic-Weston is most impressive, Dr. John Greskovich is a Godsend, and I may ha be to be less cynical about doctors in the future.

Even with PCa, a persistent PSA and a large tumor still there, I count myself as very lucky. May all of you be as fortunate fighting the beast.

Ugh...2ADT and the coming weekend have conspired to turn me into a rank sentimentalist. smilewinkgrin
Posted 3/26/2018 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
Garyi, I’m happy to hear your first day under the Varian went really well! I’m still a few weeks out from my simulation so I’ll be following yours and SP’s progress closely.

Mike
Posted 3/27/2018 12:01 AM (GMT 0)

garyi said...
Well into my PCa journey, and my first radiation treatment was a pleasure.


Yeah. Wait till you've had a dozen of 'em and the techs are as sick of your ugly mug as you are of theirs. Small talk: "Your bladder wasn't as full as usual today." "School's out this week, less traffic in the morning, I'm getting here 10 minutes earlier." "Well, start drinking water 10 minutes before you get in the car." Sure. Yaaaawn.

garyi said...
The Varian Edge equipment was fast, accurate and quiet.


Uh, how do you know it was accurate? O ye of much faith. You're losing your own Edge, Gary. Must be the 2ADT.

garyi said...
The facility and staff at Cleveland Clinic-Weston is most impressive, Dr. John Greskovich is a Godsend, and I may ha be to be less cynical about doctors in the future.


Tell me it ain't so! Next thing you know you'll be volunteering to train barbers in outreach.

garyi said...
Even with PCa, a persistent PSA and a large tumor still there, I count myself as very lucky. May all of you be as fortunate fighting the beast.


Amen, brother.
Posted 3/27/2018 2:39 AM (GMT 0)

garyi said...
The facility and staff at Cleveland Clinic-Weston is most impressive, Dr. John Greskovich is a Godsend, and I may ha be to be less cynical about doctors in the future.


Tell me it ain't so! Next thing you know you'll be volunteering to train barbers in outreach.

LOLOLOL. Well played, Richard, well played.
Posted 3/27/2018 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
If I didn’t have ED from Lupron already, Richard just sealed the deal. He’s embarrassed because the radiation techs know he doesn’t change his undies daily.

My RO shared seven pages of tables, stats and diagrams showing the accuracy of the lasers and the DVH. As a law student who never had a physics or math course, this would be way over SP’s head.

Good barber line...... smilewinkgrin
Posted 3/27/2018 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys

Forecaddie, good luck on your treatment, we are all pulling for ya man.

Garyi .. i agree about Varian being great.. i was on the table no more than 10 mins each session...

So as you all know my RO suggested we "consider" 6 month HT with SRT for my treatment at the onset of my plan. .. this is before treatment. Which I agreed to and have since completed.. then at the end of my treatment he suggested chemo as a consideration and suggested 1 addition year of HT... ive thought about it, and I think TA would agree with me here... enough is enough for now.. ive gained 20lbs + .. and im tired from the 6 month of Lupron, im not going to endure any more treatments.. instead im going to wait a few month to let the lupron clear and start ultrasensitive PSA tests again.

BTW.. i finally told my parents... when my dad (whose a PHD in particle physics learned how much radiation i got, he initially got literally sick to his stomach... but then then i guess he said it was ok.. guess its different for ionized radoation vs what he was thinking.... i dunno.. but it did freak me out a little.

In terms of how im doing... tired, no bleeding, feel fat... and worried about my first PSA test... i have a 14 month baby girl... and im constantly thinking about wanting to be with her ... and stay living .. ;)

Anyway.. hope you all are doing ok...

Zzarth

Ps: sorry for the typos.. im travelling for business, topping from a cell phone smile
Posted 3/27/2018 6:43 AM (GMT 0)
Zzarth, we're so with you, my friend. Good on you telling your parents, it was time, will be better for everyone in the long run. And stop with the baby daughter talk -- you'll be around for grandkids.

On radiation exposure: Luckily, I have no freakin' idea what a Gray is. As garyi says, I'm nearly completely ignorant about math and physics. This despite the fact that my three apartment-mates as an undergraduate were a math major, a physics major, and a chem major. However, I did somehow squeak out a B in Calculus and a bonafide A in Physics for Poets.

On the ADT bait-n-switch: This reminds me of getting braces as a teenager. The orthodontist sold me and my parents on it by saying it wasn't a bad overbite, just needed 1 year to fix it. Then at 1 year, he says, Almost done, another 6 months and it'll be perfect. Then at 18 months... I've already alerted my RO to expect a fight when it comes time for my third 3-month Eligard injection. He chuckled, like he's heard that one before.

Garyi, I'll put my radiation machine up against yours for accuracy any day. Here's a link to a picture of me on the table, with the dosimetrist expertly adjusting the fraction and the tech pinpointing the beam:SP tx

Post Edited (Saipan Paradise) : 3/27/2018 12:47:32 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/27/2018 10:39 AM (GMT 0)
SP, even tho I had been on ADT for a couple of months never got tired of my techs just dreamed about being 20 again having all working parts! LOL. I was lucky never had any trouble with the water but man some of the guys did one guy especially just dreaded going over for treatment because of worried if he was gonna have the right amount of water in his system. He had master's degrees n a phd in something pretty smart dude but us average working guys used to give him a hard time about the water drinking we would tell him don't try to analyze it just drink the darn water! Great guy kinda enjoyed us razzing him don't think he was use to that. Zzarth,good to hear from you. Hope things are going well. Garyi, not sure about the varian being great was more interested in what old rock n roll band was gonna be on the overhead monitor n was disgusted when the arm came around n blocked my view! Ha ha Forecaddie, bet you cant wait to get started after listening to us guys hey?

Larry
Posted 3/27/2018 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
Great to hear your good spirits, all. Gives me hope and information as I head toward your path (delayed a couple of weeks by the last northeastern storm).
Posted 3/27/2018 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
Zzarth.....”enough is enough”, for sure. I respect RO’s far more than urologists (but you have a fine one), except when it comes to their aggressiveness with ADT. Some RO’s need the kitchen sink thrown at them.

Given your numbers and pathology you did the right thing drawing a line in the sand. As wonderful as little daughters are, little granddaughters are even better. May you discover this many times over.

SP....high school courses don’t count, and your on-line Yalie law degree is highly questionable. turn

Post Edited (garyi) : 3/27/2018 2:40:13 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/27/2018 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
Garyi, hey i drew a line in the snow all 6" inches of it for over an hr! Does that count?


Larry
Posted 3/27/2018 1:25 PM (GMT 0)

Skypilot56 said...
Garyi, hey i drew a line in the snow all 6" inches of it for over an hr! Does that count?

What's snow confused

To my friends, Larry....it's Gary wink
Posted 3/27/2018 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys, ty for all the nice responses.

Im in Austin, but my parents are in Boston, so when we went home, it was a complete white out! Thank goodness my parents had a generator. smile

Right after finishing my sessions i hit the road for work... i went to Barcelona, San Ftan, DC, and Boston.

BOY, did i get sick in Barcelona

Im thinking my immune system must have been depressed because i havent been that sick in years. (Chest cold)

Anyone else get sick after treatment?


Zzarth
Posted 3/27/2018 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad everyone is doing well with this wonderful path we're on.

I've got Lupron for the full 18 months - can't get it over with fast enough - hate the Lupron SE's

Today is day 10 of 39 - so far so good, no more tired than I was before due to the Lupron. Night sweats and chills wake me up at least 10 times a night.

Here's to Zzarth's grand kids and great grand kids - he'll be with us for a long long time!

Cheers!

Rob
Posted 3/27/2018 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
SRT finished 12/16 - been on Lupron since 8/16

Next 3 month Lupron injection scheduled for end of April 2018 -

Decision time for me - end of April brings me to 20 months on HT have to decide whether to go 2 years, which MO wants, or stop at 20 months?

Bobby Mac
Posted 3/27/2018 11:29 PM (GMT 0)

Bobby Mac said...
SRT finished 12/16 - been on Lupron since 8/16

Next 3 month Lupron injection scheduled for end of April 2018 -

Decision time for me - end of April brings me to 20 months on HT have to decide whether to go 2 years, which MO wants, or stop at 20 months?

Bobby Mac


You've gone this long on Lupron, what's the urgency to pull the plug 4 months short of the planned finish? I don't know any studies of outcomes for 18/20 months vs. 24 months. But I notice your T level only recently dropped below 20. Maybe there would be some benefit from keeping it there for awhile? Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can speak to that.
Also, if it'll be 20 months at the end of April, why not get a 4-month Lupron Depot and be done with the injections, instead of 3 and 1?
Posted 3/28/2018 11:04 AM (GMT 0)

Saipan Paradise said...

Also, if it'll be 20 months at the end of April, why not get a 4-month Lupron Depot and be done with the injections, instead of 3 and 1?

Good advise, in your situation, Bobby Mac.

SP....what are you doing with ADT? Eligard plus Casodex for six months???
✚ New Topic locked
12345678910