Abiraterone and its affect

User

Posted 26 Jan 2025 at 22:23

Update on how things are going since I lasted posted.

I’m at staging T3b N1 Mx.

Consultant advised HT RT was only option as the cancer was too advanced for surgery.

Had PSMA Pet scan to confirm that it had not travelled elsewhere in my body. The results came back OK relieved at that.

The HT treatment started Bicalutramide 50mg for 28 days and them injection of Triptorelin in the buttocks which would be repeated in 6 months.

Although the Pet Scan confirmed the pelvic lymph node was related to prostrate cancer

the higher lymph node in the abdomen was not.But an area of interest was noted which required a MRI Scan of whole spine . The result of MRI was OK

Now I was transferred to oncology meeting in January.

Oncologist recommends a second generation HT drug Abiraterone (not licensed in England but is in Scotland) which I had to sign for.
The drug was Abiraterone 500mg x2 and Prednisolone 5mg take this for 56 days prior to RT in late March early April probably 20 fractions.

Finding Abiraterone is causing blood pressure to go into hypertension (never had that before) so local GP when consulted gave me Amiodipine 5mg Oncologist was consulted about this prior to taking it .

HT causing other problems which are inconvenient to say the least the urgency to need to find a loo ,slowing down as I was quite an active person.ED old boy like a piece of play doh and at times taking some finding, and it’s not the cold either.

Can anybody say if they are experiencing similar problems?

Dave

User

Posted 27 Jan 2025 at 00:23

Dave, I am expecting to start Abiraterone and prednisolone in the next couple of weeks. I am in England but using my wife's health insurance. Google comes up with a Dec 2024 NHS England statement that says Abi can be used in England, its perhaps in particular situations. My blood pressure is already quite high even on medication. We will have to compare notes as we progress

All the best.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 27 Jan 2025 at 01:41

Hi Dave

My husband is in a similar position and on the same meds other than being on Prostap rather than Triptorelin. He has been on Abiraterone since the beginning of October. It’s difficult to say whether his side effects are from the Abi or the Prostap but it sounds like you’re having much the same issues as he is. Fatigue is by far the worst one. He had awful joint pain initially too, apparently the result of muscle wastage leaving the joints unsupported, but that has pretty much disappeared since we started working with a PT at the local gym. (I’m doing it too just for moral support). His blood pressure was elevated initially and his kidneys were also affected, but both settled down without any intervention thankfully. He starts RT a week on Thursday, 20 fractions. He’s to be on Prostap for 3 years in total, and Abiraterone for 2 years (along with Prednisolone). He’s 63, T3bN0M0, Gleason 4+5, but his oncologists tells us that although there are no guarantees, he is on a “curative path”. As he’s slightly further along the path than you, feel free to message if you think we can answer anything. It’s such a rubbish journey this, isn’t it!! 😢

User

Posted 27 Jan 2025 at 14:34

Hi Chris
Thanks for responding,I assume your levels T3b/N1/Mx are the same as mine.
The Oncologist suggested taking Abiraterone and Prednisolone to further shrink the cancer prior to RT.
I thought that having the Triptorelin would be enough to suppress the testosterone in my system? The Amiodipine at the moment has brought my blood pressure down but keeping an eye on it in case it goes too low.Main problem at the moment is running water and where is the nearest toilet I am hoping this will improve over time it’s driving me nuts.

Will keep you posted as things progress
Dave

User

Posted 27 Jan 2025 at 14:40

Hi Kassy 60

Thanks for responding ,sorry to hear your husband is in same predicament as myself .I was assuming that the Abiraterone/Prednisolone was just up to when RT started and not a long term treatment.They may inform me if things change at next meeting.

Dave

User

Posted 27 Jan 2025 at 15:08

Dave, I am a couple of years older than you and 11 years into this journey. After surgery and salvage RT and some additional additional targeted SABR treatment, it is time for HT and abiraterone plus prednisolone are the proposed treatments.

Thanks Chris.

User

Posted 30 Jan 2025 at 22:02

Hi Dave

We've been told that taking the Abiraterone for the 2 years will cut down the chances of the cancer returning by around 40%. That convinced us that it was worth the significant risks of taking it. I haven’t heard of it being used only until RT but I dare say different oncologists have different “favourite” treatment paths. Hope it all goes well for you.

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