Father having prostate cancer

Praveenkolli · Regular Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 21

Hi

I hope you remember me.I am from India.

We started Chemo for my Father.

He was given 40Ml of Docetaxl per week i.e on 11/10,11/17,11/24.
His swelling has reduced substancially.He decreased 5 kgs as of now.
As of now he doesn't have major side effects.

Doctor has suggested to take a break for one week and we will be starting our next dose of Chemo on 12/08.

Before every dose doctor has suggested some blood tests i.e Complete Blood Picture,Bill Rubin, Sr creatine. We would found that his Hemoglobin and White blood cells are decreasing.How to take care about this?

As of now he feeling pretty good has his swelling has decreased.He is not having full control on Urine may be he has undergone 2 times of surgery as I told.

What kind of food will increase White Blood cells and Hemoglobin?

Also,I heard that PC is heridietory.What are the chances I also may get?
What kind of food habits I need to follow?Any kind of special care that I need to take care?

Please let me know

Replicant · Moderator Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 744

I assume there are foods to choose and foods to avoid, that will increase WBC and hemoglobin, but I don't know for sure. A dietician who sees a lot of cancer patients could tell you. And I think there are medicines to help with that. I would ask the doctor if I were you.

As far as inherited prostate cancer: genetics plays a role, but studies of identical twins have shown that it's not an extremely strong link. Having a father with prostate cancer might slightly increase your chances. Having two close relatives with prostate cancer is more significant. You can probably help yourself to some degree by watching your general health. Men who eat high levels of saturated fats or who are obese may be at higher risk, and at higher risk of aggressive disease. High cholesterol is a risk. Eating a plant based diet is probably best. Exercise. You might want to try drinking pomegranate juice, as some early studies show a benefit. It's expensive, though.

These things are no guarantee, but they won't hurt and can help other aspects of your health as well.

Make sure you get your PSA checked and have a digital rectal exam on a regular basis.

I highly recommend "Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer" (2007 edition). It's widely available in bookstores and libraries.
_________________
Replicant

Dx Feb 2006, PSA 9 @age 43
RRP Apr 2006 - Gleason 3+4, T2c, NXMX, pos margins
PSA 5/06 <0.1, 8/06 0.2, 12/06 0.6, 1/07 0.7.
Salvage radiation (IMRT) total dose 70.2 Gy, Jan-Mar 2007@ age 44
PSA 6/07 0.1, 9/07 (and thereafter) <0.1
http://pcabefore50.blogspot.com

Praveenkolli · Regular Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 21

Hi

I heard some news about Hi Intensity Prostate Ultrasound(HIPU) process.
Is it really useful for my father who is having Harmone resistent PC.

I heard that its not allowed to use in US.But its used in Canada & Mexico.

Please let me know if you have any details regading the HIPU.

Replicant · Moderator Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 744

HIFU is a treatment for localized prostate cancer. Based on the information you provided, your father has advanced, systemic disease. HIFU would not be an appropriate treatment (again, I have no medical qualifications, so you should be asking these questions of his medical team as well as presenting them here).

Treatment for advanced prostate cancer consists of hormone therapy and/or chemotherapy.

Best wishes to you and your father.
_________________
Replicant

Dx Feb 2006, PSA 9 @age 43
RRP Apr 2006 - Gleason 3+4, T2c, NXMX, pos margins
PSA 5/06 <0.1, 8/06 0.2, 12/06 0.6, 1/07 0.7.
Salvage radiation (IMRT) total dose 70.2 Gy, Jan-Mar 2007@ age 44
PSA 6/07 0.1, 9/07 (and thereafter) <0.1
http://pcabefore50.blogspot.com

Praveenkolli · Regular Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 21

We are done with 2 cycles of Docetaxal(Chemo) with 120mg for each cycle.After second cycle we did PSA and its 16.Intially it was 37.It came down from 37 to 16 after two cycles.

Can anyone suggested what does this infer?Doctor has prescribed a total of 6 cycles of Docetaxal.

Is my father responding well to the treatment.If that is the case what is his life expentency?Sorry for asking this question.But i am unable to stop myself to ask this question.

With Regards
Praveen Kolli

Hawk · Senior User Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 406

It sounds to my untrained mind like your fathers response is good but I doubt that even a doctor can give you any clear answer on life expectancy at this point.

I hope for the best for your Father.
_________________
History: PSA's 6.7 neg. biopsy - PSA 16.6 neg. biopsy - PSA's 8.2, 8.1, 8.7 - Biopsy. 4+4 Gleason 8. Lap RP Apr 2004, age 52 All neg margins, nodes, and structures. (T2a). Post RP PSA: every 6 mo. <.1 until Feb, 08 (46 mos) PSA .1 - I then got sensitive tests (all in 2008) showing:
Feb .06, May .09, Jun .10, Aug .10, Nov .15 -SRT

Praveenkolli · Regular Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 21

Hi Everybody

I just heard or read in some websites,that Chemo doesn't give best results in case of Prostate cancer.
Is it true?Please let me know

Thanks
Praveen Kolli

Replicant · Moderator Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 744

Compared to some other cancers, prostate cancer does not respond well to chemotherapy. Part of the reason is that chemo works best against fast-dividing cells. Most cancers have very fast cell division, but prostate cancer is a relatively slow dividing one.

However, some therapies have been developed that help the advanced prostate cancer patient. Many men today get a combo of docetaxel plus prednisone. The median benefit is an extension of survival time by a few months. However, some men get a much longer benefit (while, of course, some get less).

There are other chemo drugs out there that are being tried, some in clinical trials. Recently there's been a lot of excitement about a trial for abiraterone acetate. In Phase II trials, 44% of the participants had their PSA decline more than 50%. However, bone mets did not decrease. (Those are preliminary results--the Phase II trials are continuing).

Work also continues on immune based therapies (therapeutic vaccines).

But overall, you're right. Compared to some cancers, prostate cancer doesn't respond as well as some tumors to chemo. Testicular cancer, for example, responds very well to chemo. Some breast cancer patients can do well on chemo for many years--I know a woman who has had metastatic breast cancer for several years and she just moves from one drug to another--when one stops working, they move to another. That's not the case, at least right now, with prostate cancer.
_________________
Replicant

Dx Feb 2006, PSA 9 @age 43
RRP Apr 2006 - Gleason 3+4, T2c, NXMX, pos margins
PSA 5/06 <0.1, 8/06 0.2, 12/06 0.6, 1/07 0.7.
Salvage radiation (IMRT) total dose 70.2 Gy, Jan-Mar 2007@ age 44
PSA 6/07 0.1, 9/07 (and thereafter) <0.1
http://pcabefore50.blogspot.com

Praveenkolli · Regular Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 21

My father has completed 5 rounds of Docetaxol i.e 5 cycles of Chemo.
His PSA was 4.26 before 5th cycle(Earlier its 37).Doctor suggested for one more round of Chemo cycle i.e a total of 6 for my father.

If even this course also fails because my father under gone two operations(In on operation they removed Testis),Radiation also.What are the other options left even if Chemo doesn't work in my dad's case?

To which organs it generally spreads(right now it spread to some bones and he is not feeling any pain as of now)?

How ever his swelling has not gone completly gone.Infact its goes down immediatly after Chemo and starts to increase after 10 days. So its not in one direction. What best we can do now?

Please let me know

Hawk · Senior User Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 406

Praveenkolli,

I am sorry to read about your father's problems but glad he is getting some response.

The reality is that the chemo will fail. Chemo and hormone type therapies are not a cure. If your father has had surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, and chemo I am not sure there is much left except experimental treatments (clinical trials).

There may be possibilities that the hormone therapy has not been utilized to the fullest. I am not sure, but if he just had an Orchiectomy, (removal of testicles) there may be additional androgen therapy that is helpful. Others may know more about this.

There is one vaccine and one "improved" drug for those that fail hormone therapy likely to soon hit the market in the U.S. These are not cures however and benefit is limited.
_________________
History: PSA's 6.7 neg. biopsy - PSA 16.6 neg. biopsy - PSA's 8.2, 8.1, 8.7 - Biopsy. 4+4 Gleason 8. Lap RP Apr 2004, age 52 All neg margins, nodes, and structures. (T2a). Post RP PSA: every 6 mo. <.1 until Feb, 08 (46 mos) PSA .1 - I then got sensitive tests (all in 2008) showing:
Feb .06, May .09, Jun .10, Aug .10, Nov .15 -SRT

Praveenkolli · Regular Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 21

I do understand the fact that his state is not curable maximum we can increase his life term.I am not sure by how much time period.Doctors are also not able to tell exactly.

He is HRPC i.e Harmone resistant PC ,so not use whether we can use Andorgens.

Currently along with Chemo he is just taking Pomogranets.

Please let us know your thoughts which will he helpful to me.

With Regards
Praveen Kolli(India)

neutrondbob

See the group at: www.hrpca.org
Also a web group exists: email www.hrpca@yahoogroups.com

www.prostate-help.org (see hrpca and secondline therapies etc.)
www.hormonerefractorypca.org
www.hypertext.org (DR.Strum)
www.paactusa.org (USA newsletter for Patients with advance PCa)

Drugs: ketoconazole, nizoral (2nd line for hrpca)
Drugs: DES, estradiol patch, emcyt (also can worl against hrpca)

There are other drugs and drug combos being used by: onco-docs like: Sartor, Myers, Lam, Tucker, Scholz, Strum, Leibowitz, Labrie, Lam,
Barken and more.

I have used DES with results that surpassed the ADT3 combo (lupron+casodex+proscar), as to psa levels and stabilization and with very little if any effects compared to the other which had plenty.

Praveenkolli · Regular Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 21

Hi

My father had done with 6 cycles of Chemo.Now his PSA is around 3.
Doctor said no need of furthur Chemo cycles.

He is preety fine but still swelling has not gone completly in his legs.
These days he got swelling in his Testis place also.(Actually his testis was removed in the intial operation).Not sure why he got that swelling.He is feeling lot of incomfort due this swelling.That to swelling will not be constant i.e it decreases some times and increases some times.Not sure how to take care about this.Request for a advice.

One more question which was in my mind.
If In case of Liver cancer or any other cancer the person dies in case of that particular organ not fucntioning. But as per my understanding Prostate is not a very important part to play in his daily activities atleast at this age(58 years). I do understand that it spreads to Bones. Any other organs it will spread.But how come patient dies due to PC.

What will be final stages of PC look like.Can any one you through a lite on this.Sorry If my question looks pretty Odd. But this question is haunting me from so many days.

Please clarify.

Replicant · Moderator Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 744

I'm sorry to hear your father is having such discomfort.

To answer your question, I believe that death from prostate cancer happens (at the end) by cachexia, or wasting syndrome where the person loses weight, both in fat and muscle. This is accompanied by anorexia (loss of appetite).

See a post by an oncologist about this here:
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/michaelglodemd/how-does-prostate-can-7932

The American Cancer Society concurs with this view about how men die from prostate cancer, although I can't find the exact link at this time.

I hope your father gets full relief for his discomforts. Best wishes to you and your family during such difficult times.
_________________
Replicant

Dx Feb 2006, PSA 9 @age 43
RRP Apr 2006 - Gleason 3+4, T2c, NXMX, pos margins
PSA 5/06 <0.1, 8/06 0.2, 12/06 0.6, 1/07 0.7.
Salvage radiation (IMRT) total dose 70.2 Gy, Jan-Mar 2007@ age 44
PSA 6/07 0.1, 9/07 (and thereafter) <0.1
http://pcabefore50.blogspot.com

Praveenkolli · Regular Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 21

Any idea about reason for his swelling in Testis place.Is it alarming signal.
Please advice

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