Metastatic Prostate Cancer

MJD · New User Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 3

My husband was diagnosed with metastatic Prostate Cancer (Prostate, Lymph & Bone Marrow) in late Feb 2007. He was in pain and very weak with a loss of over 40lbs since Thanksgiving. His PSA was 357 then.

He has been on daily Casodex and every 90 day inj of Zolodex. His PSA lowered to 47 by July 4th and he was finally beginning to regain strength.

In Aug the pain began to return, along with the weakness. Mid-Aug he was hospitalized with a PSA of 297. Tests were run, it has spread to liver. After 1 wk in hospital, his PSA was back to 186.

Two days after his release from the hospital, he received his first Taxotere chemo treatment (along with the Casodex). Three weeks later (yesterday) he had blood work and his 2nd Taxotere chemo.

Today the doctor called me and said his PSA was 600 yesterday. All she said was we would have to wait until his next chemo to do more blood work...three more weeks. His pain is back in his legs, but the morphine is helping.

Is this horrible rise to 600 normal with chemo? Anyone have any insight? I am so new at all of this, I don't even know what questions to ask.

brainman · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: Metastatic Prostate Cancer

MJD, I am so sorry about your husband's Prostate Cancer. A PSA of 600 is extremely high. I have heard of higher PSAs but not often. I can only imagine how hard all of this must be for you. I am afraid there is little other option available to him since it has already metastasized. Is he being treated at a major medical center? Some times the doctors at major medical centers know about research protocols that your husband might qualify for. Ask his medical team about other chemotherapy options.

I will keep you and your husband in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us informed.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

MJD · New User Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 3

Thank you for your kind words. Sadly, he has always been a big, healthy man for 56 years. Always worked hard, was successful in his career and was more interested in the number of pheasant in the field than regular doctor checkups. By the time we knew there was something more wrong than the normal aches and pains of middle age, it was serious.

Neither of us is prepared for any of this. Hopefully, we will now more from his oncologist at his next visit.

Your site has been a great source of info and a nice change from the starkly clinical world we know nothing about.

brainman · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:22 am Post subject: Re: Metastatic Prostate Cancer

MJD, I am glad you like our site. We do try to provide support and information so if you need help understanding that clinical stuff, just ask and we will do our best to answer your questions.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

In · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:11 am Post subject: Re: Metastatic Prostate Cancer

MJD,
I'm so sorry about your Husbands sad news. I too am glad you like this site. It has been so important to me, that there is some where for people to ask questions, ran & rave or just to chat. I hope that your Hubbie stays as well as can be and the treatment helps.

Please update us on how things go.

Thinking of you both- Inica
_________________
Thinking of you Inica

**Administrator**

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

MJD · New User Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 3

My husband passed lost his brave fight with his cancer on October 29th. His doctor said she had never seen such an aggressive form of prostate cancer...responded to nothing. I appreciate the kind notes when I was searching.

badtrip · Regular Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 33

MJD-

Our thoughts and prayers with you, may you be comforted...

I wanted to let you know that reading your earlier posts about developments in your husband's condition helped me decide to proceed immediately with the oncologist's suggested treatment program.

I am also 56, and you may well have helped me significantly.

Menachem

leroybrown44 · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject: Re: Metastatic Prostate Cancer

MJD I was interested to read your posts given I have a very similiar condition to that of your mans and was diagnosed around the same time with a PSA of over 5000 which to this day remains a record in our regional prostate group support monthly meetings. I was put on Androcur 100mg tablets 3 a day and my PSA dropped to 550 then 220 68 11 6 back up to 8 then down to 4 over the next 7 months.The bonepain in the first month or so was out of this world and I felt like asking the wife to take me out the back and shoot me because my quality of life was so poor -i mean going to the loo etc was such an effort.When my PSA had reached 4 I had a bone Scan again and and the doc who was the same doc from 6 months previous beamingly told me that 95%of my metastatis in my pelvis ribs and shoulders had gone from the previous scan which was fantastic.Since then I have had another bone scan and the cancer had not increased but the activity was still the same as b4 but since then my PSA has gone up to 35 then 48 then 51 and the latest 92. All this time I have been on alternate supplements as well as being on a strict diet regime so I have had my feet in both medical and natural treatment camps and although its an intangible thing I believe this has held me in good stead but who knows what that belief will be in a few months time.My Oncologist originally gave me a maximum of 2 years to live and my sexlife is near zero -I am 51 years old and still not fully prepared to give that away,so I try to wean off the Androcur to achieve that and besides that the weight gain and the depression -shortness of breath and other side effects like hot flushes become unbearable as well.I went off the drugs for a week once and the pain returned pretty swiftly after 8 days so I quickly got back on them but gee it was good week and so life with cancer continues.We pray for a miracle at church and my wife and I are as close as we have ever been after 16 years.I pray for you now as well and wish you well to continue you the fight

sequoiaranger · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:17 am Post subject: MJD and Leroybrown44

MJD--if you are still looking at this forum, my condolences to the loss of your husband. I know I will "be there" sometime, as my prostate cancer is "under control" for now but has metastasized (so it's just a matter of time).

Leroybrown, your side effects are similar to mine. I look at the COMPLETE loss of libido as if that part of me has aged 25 years, but the rest of me is still in the here-and-now. It *IS* a great loss, but only one of many that might have happened. I just have to think that the loss of libido is the price I pay to be able to see my kids, play golf, and travel as a PERSON, not a man anymore. Better than the six-feet-under alternative.

Good Luck
_________________
T-3, Gleason 9+
RRP 2-26-07
Using Eligard Hormone Therapy--
working Sometimes!!

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Prostate Cancer Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others