Chemo and HT combo advice?

As for side effects, the usual for chemo, hair loss, numb fingers and toes, black tongue initially , loss if taste, dried blood in my nose in the mornings, occasional feeling sick but tablets they gave me sorted that. I did manage to keep running and dud 2 marathons on weeks 13 and 15 of chemo. Side effects of RT, none for six months then radiation proctutus is bleeding bottom, not an issue but a bit concerning at first, quite minor.

I took the view, rightly or wrongly, that I know little about PC, personally I like to rake action do if the quack says he wants to do something there is usually good reason. I did ask lots if questions at the time about why thus course opposed to others I had read about and he explained reasons for everything which made me happy. My tumblr/ lymph glands shrunk from3.5cm to 0.5 cm after treatment which us normal size so it worked for me. I know it will come back but the smaller things are at that time the more chance the docs have to find another working solution.

Feel free to keep asking any questions to the forum.

Kev

Hi Kev and Nidge

Thanks for your really helpful responses. Think the decision is becoming clearer - part of the anxiety is to do with the fear of chemo and a desire to put it off for as long as possible! So it's great to hear that you have faced it and handled it and are still going strong. Congratulations on the marathons Kev. I couldn't even manage to run for the bus so I'm awestruck by your determination and by the positivity that comes through from both your posts. I'll let you know how we get on. Hope you both continue to do well.

Eleanor

Thanks Steven - really useful tip about recording the consultation. It's hard to take everything in and I realise that we don't actually know if the PSA has gone up since the initial GP test, or how far it's spread (we had a quick glance at the bone scan which wasn't good but we don't have anything written down) and we're not sure what HT my OH is on! Will be better prepared when we go in on 16th. And less frightened thanks to you and others on the forum. Hope your PSA stays low and that no additional zapping is needed for a long time. Good luck. E

This is a link to the findings of the Stampede trial last year: http://www.ascopost.com/News/27615
You will see that on average, men with metastatic disease (and on HT) who received early docetxel survived for 65 months rather than 43 months without it. That's where the "two years longer" comes from: It's two years on top of an already very limited life expectancy, which sounds like a worthwhile benefit.

But an average is only that; it's not a minimum, and it's by no means guaranteed. My husband Tony had early docetaxel last year, finishing in March 2015. When these trial results were published in June, we were delighted, and hoping for several years more of good quality life together. However, by July his PSA had started to rise again, and by September it was obvious that the HT was failing to control the cancer. Enzalutamide brought several months' respite, but now the cancer is in his bone marrow, making further treatments (including further chemo) pointless. So, 16 months after completing the docetaxel, he has only palliative care from now on, and only months to live. For what it's worth, Tony tolerated the chemo very well, with few side effects (and arguably few effects at all!)

I'm sorry if this all sounds gloomy, but look at the positive side of this lottery: for every man who gets no benefit from docetaxel, there will be someone else who gets years of extra life from it. You could be lucky, or even average, either of which makes the chemo well worthwhile.
Marje

Many thanks Martin. I've had a look at the video and it's really clear and helpful/hopeful. I'll ask the consultant about this treatment when we go for the next appointment. Sounds as if it offers the best possible option under the circumstances and that the side effects are bearable if not pleasant. Good luck to you - hope the effects of the treatment are longlasting.

Best wishes

Eleanor

It could be a tumour flare as a result of the cancer objecting to the lack of testosterone. If he has had tingling in his feet / legs, or the wobble that you refer to is actually problems controlling his legs, and you know that he has spinal mets phone 111 or 999 and tell them that very clearly. They will advise and may decide to take him in for a check.