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Treatment decisions?

User
Posted 27 Dec 2024 at 17:41

Hi everyone, 

I have been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. I have been given 2 to 5 years 

following my appointment last week I was sent away with several pamphlets about different drugs / treatments and I just don’t understand it!

am I better having chemo first or the hormone drug treatment, I want to do what is best to treat the cancer but also want to be able to do things in the next two years with family friends and ambitions 

any help would be really appreciated 

User
Posted 28 Dec 2024 at 14:54
Hi my OH never asked about time scale ,but he was diagnosed 9 yrs ago with 4+5 spread to lymph nodes . Was just told incurable but they could slow the process. He started with the hormone therapy then straight onto 6 rounds of chemo . He was 55 at diagnosis and managed to carry on working through out the chemo . After chemo he went onto enzolutamine and abi combo on a trial . His PSA has stayed undetectable ever since . And he’s still working .

Good luck in your treatment.

Debby

User
Posted 27 Dec 2024 at 20:19

Hello mate, welcome to your new world order!!

Virtually every member of this forum has stood in your shoes and asked these questions.

When asking for advice, it does help if you update your profile, so that we can see the details of your case?

Age, symptoms, PSA, staging, Gleason score.

But don't panic - you're in the right place for help and support.

User
Posted 28 Dec 2024 at 10:05

Hi

Welcome to the untreatables,my advice would be enzalutamide followed by chemo,it's less life changing,but others may have planned a different route, ultimately the choice is yours.

Regards Phil 

Sorry as Craig mentioned it's the Incurables lol my bad

Edited by member 29 Dec 2024 at 08:38  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 28 Dec 2024 at 14:27

Hi and as Phil said, welcome to the incurables club! 

Firstly, although being given '2 to 5 years' can feel like a hammer blow, they're just guesses made by the oncology team.  I was diagnosed at age 54 with inoperable stage IV PCa with multiple metastases in my bones, and I was given a life expectancy of 3 to 5 years.  6 years after being diagnosed, my cancer's still spreading (slowly), but I'm still fit and fully active, going for long walks with my wife & family, and riding my motorbike when the weather's half decent.    

In terms of treatment, I would suggest pushing back a little with the oncology team and asking what they would recommend:  they must have some idea for the best options based on your specific disease progression.

For what it's worth, my treatment history after being diagnosed in January 2019 was as follows (surgery was not an option as my cancer was way too advanced):

-  immediate start on hormone therapy (a Zoladex implant every 12 weeks).  This stops your body producing the male hormone testosterone, which is what prostate cancer cells need to grow

-  after 4 months hormone therapy, I had 6 sessions of chemotherapy with the drug Docetaxel (one infusion every 3 weeks).  This aims to kill off cancer cells.

-  a few weeks after finishing the chemo, I had 20 sessions of radiotherapy targeting the primary tumour in my prostate. This again helps to slow growth in secondary tumours.

 

You can see my full treatment history in my profile.  Most of my treatment was easy to tolerate and manage:  the chemotherapy has the strongest side-effects, but back in 2019 it wasn't bad, just made me feel ill like I had 'flu for a couple of days at worst.  

Do ask us if you've any questions about your cancer or treatment options:  chances are someone here has been in a similar position to you and can help.  You're not alone.  

All the best in the meantime.

Craig

 

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User
Posted 27 Dec 2024 at 20:19

Hello mate, welcome to your new world order!!

Virtually every member of this forum has stood in your shoes and asked these questions.

When asking for advice, it does help if you update your profile, so that we can see the details of your case?

Age, symptoms, PSA, staging, Gleason score.

But don't panic - you're in the right place for help and support.

User
Posted 28 Dec 2024 at 10:05

Hi

Welcome to the untreatables,my advice would be enzalutamide followed by chemo,it's less life changing,but others may have planned a different route, ultimately the choice is yours.

Regards Phil 

Sorry as Craig mentioned it's the Incurables lol my bad

Edited by member 29 Dec 2024 at 08:38  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 28 Dec 2024 at 14:27

Hi and as Phil said, welcome to the incurables club! 

Firstly, although being given '2 to 5 years' can feel like a hammer blow, they're just guesses made by the oncology team.  I was diagnosed at age 54 with inoperable stage IV PCa with multiple metastases in my bones, and I was given a life expectancy of 3 to 5 years.  6 years after being diagnosed, my cancer's still spreading (slowly), but I'm still fit and fully active, going for long walks with my wife & family, and riding my motorbike when the weather's half decent.    

In terms of treatment, I would suggest pushing back a little with the oncology team and asking what they would recommend:  they must have some idea for the best options based on your specific disease progression.

For what it's worth, my treatment history after being diagnosed in January 2019 was as follows (surgery was not an option as my cancer was way too advanced):

-  immediate start on hormone therapy (a Zoladex implant every 12 weeks).  This stops your body producing the male hormone testosterone, which is what prostate cancer cells need to grow

-  after 4 months hormone therapy, I had 6 sessions of chemotherapy with the drug Docetaxel (one infusion every 3 weeks).  This aims to kill off cancer cells.

-  a few weeks after finishing the chemo, I had 20 sessions of radiotherapy targeting the primary tumour in my prostate. This again helps to slow growth in secondary tumours.

 

You can see my full treatment history in my profile.  Most of my treatment was easy to tolerate and manage:  the chemotherapy has the strongest side-effects, but back in 2019 it wasn't bad, just made me feel ill like I had 'flu for a couple of days at worst.  

Do ask us if you've any questions about your cancer or treatment options:  chances are someone here has been in a similar position to you and can help.  You're not alone.  

All the best in the meantime.

Craig

 

User
Posted 28 Dec 2024 at 14:54
Hi my OH never asked about time scale ,but he was diagnosed 9 yrs ago with 4+5 spread to lymph nodes . Was just told incurable but they could slow the process. He started with the hormone therapy then straight onto 6 rounds of chemo . He was 55 at diagnosis and managed to carry on working through out the chemo . After chemo he went onto enzolutamine and abi combo on a trial . His PSA has stayed undetectable ever since . And he’s still working .

Good luck in your treatment.

Debby

 
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