Talk Cancer

Question:

 My sister went through 3 rounds of chemo for her assortment of diseases. It really kicked her butt. Wish me luck.

 From what many have described here about PC hormone therapy, chemo may be much less debilitating, especially in the long run. Any of them beat the ultimate effects of your mets. You sound strong and accepting of your plight (in the sense you’re fighting but not woe-is-me about it), which I think is critical to as good a future as can be expected with your numbers. Hang in there, fight back, and realize you’ve done all you can . . . which is more than I did with my younger case ("successful" surgery a year ago but no adjuvant hormone therapy). Best of luck. I.P.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi My latest PSA was 27.4 up from 6.9. I’ve been on hormone therapy for about 6 months. In that time the PSA went from 725.7 in March to a low of 6.6.  Last month it was 6.9. Yesterday I had cat scans and a bone scan.  The Oncologist wants to see if the cancer has spread to any new areas.  Originally it had spread to spine, legs, ribs and sternum. A letter from the Urologist stated that he felt that I am a candidate for chemotherapy. They have taken me off Casodex.  I had a 3 month Zoladex injection on Aug 1. This is very disappointing since I had hoped that the hormones would have worked for years.  My thought was that by then they might have found a "cure". I expect a call from the Oncologist’s office for me to come in Monday.  They would have the results of the scans by then and should have plan for a course of action. Chemo is something new to me and am not sure what to expect.  I doubt if it is very pleasant.  My sister went through 3 rounds of chemo for her assortment of diseases. It really kicked her butt. Wish me luck. Jim

good luck Jim. . Here’s to a relatively side effect free chemo experience. Lori

Response:

Jim… we all send the best prayers and wishes your way. We all hope for the best. Ron B. Chicago

Response:

Jim, You are in my prayers for good results. My mother is in the middle of big-time chemo following big time surgery for ovarian cancer. She’s done very well with it, and is planning trips she wants to go on when it done. Chemo is not always terrible. Those are the cases everybody hears about. Steve U

Response:

I suspect it will kick your butt, but that you will survive it and get over it quickly.  I am very sorry to hear that HT went refractive so quickly. — Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA  .1  .1  .1  .27  .37  .75 PSA  .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05 PSA  .07 .05 .06 .05 non Illegitimi carborundum

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi My latest PSA was 27.4 up from 6.9. I’ve been on hormone therapy for about 6 months. In that time the PSA went from 725.7 in March to a low of 6.6.  Last month it was 6.9. Yesterday I had cat scans and a bone scan.  The Oncologist wants to see if the cancer has spread to any new areas.  Originally it had spread to spine, legs, ribs and sternum. A letter from the Urologist stated that he felt that I am a candidate for chemotherapy. They have taken me off Casodex.  I had a 3 month Zoladex injection on Aug 1. This is very disappointing since I had hoped that the hormones would have worked for years.  My thought was that by then they might have found a "cure". I expect a call from the Oncologist’s office for me to come in Monday.  They would have the results of the scans by then and should have plan for a course of action. Chemo is something new to me and am not sure what to expect.  I doubt if it is very pleasant.  My sister went through 3 rounds of chemo for her assortment of diseases. It really kicked her butt. Wish me luck. Jim

Response:

Hello Jim God bless you. I had had a very bad experience regarding Chemo in my father’s case. He was 68 when he recived five cycles of chemo. Cheom damaged his kidneys. According to another Oncologist Dr. Javed Malik (PAKISTAN) Chemo is not given to cancer Patients. I read in an article that taking green tea, good environment, tension free life, eating vegetables etc  are good for handle Cancer. Please also consult other Oncologist. Regards Faraz

Response:

Hello Jim,     Life is a "crap shoot" I do wish you luck.  I have no majic bullet other than being strong, and always fighting. Please never give in….. Always fight….. I know how it feels, but what else can a guy do. Love your wife, and children, and there children. John Loomis…..

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi My latest PSA was 27.4 up from 6.9. I’ve been on hormone therapy for about 6 months. In that time the PSA went from 725.7 in March to a low of 6.6.  Last month it was 6.9. Yesterday I had cat scans and a bone scan.  The Oncologist wants to see if the cancer has spread to any new areas.  Originally it had spread to spine, legs, ribs and sternum. A letter from the Urologist stated that he felt that I am a candidate for chemotherapy. They have taken me off Casodex.  I had a 3 month Zoladex injection on Aug 1. This is very disappointing since I had hoped that the hormones would have worked for years.  My thought was that by then they might have found a "cure". I expect a call from the Oncologist’s office for me to come in Monday.  They would have the results of the scans by then and should have plan for a course of action. Chemo is something new to me and am not sure what to expect.  I doubt if it is very pleasant.  My sister went through 3 rounds of chemo for her assortment of diseases. It really kicked her butt. Wish me luck. Jim

Response:

My best wishes to you and your family.  I hope the chemo puts you in remission for a long time. If you are game for it, and if there are any available near you, you might also look into clinical trials of new experimental therapies. Two that we have read about that looked initially promising are phenoxodiol and a cancer vaccine (but its for treatment, not prevention.) There is a guide to clinical trials from the National Cancer Institute at:    http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/findtrials Their basic trials search form is at:    http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ My personal experience in a clinical trial was very positive. The doctors I met were very knowledgeable, their examinations were more thorough than any I had ever had, and all of their treatment and followup care was completely free – paid for by their research funds. Best of luck to you.     Alan

Response:

Hi My latest PSA was 27.4 up from 6.9.   I’ve been on hormone therapy for about 6 months. In that time the PSA went from 725.7 in March to a low of 6.6.  Last month it was 6.9. Yesterday I had cat scans and a bone scan.  The Oncologist wants to see if the cancer has spread to any new areas.  Originally it had spread to spine, legs, ribs and sternum. A letter from the Urologist stated that he felt that I am a candidate for chemotherapy.   They have taken me off Casodex.  I had a 3 month Zoladex injection on Aug 1. This is very disappointing since I had hoped that the hormones would have worked for years.  My thought was that by then they might have found a "cure". I expect a call from the Oncologist’s office for me to come in Monday.  They would have the results of the scans by then and should have plan for a course of action. Chemo is something new to me and am not sure what to expect.  I doubt if it is very pleasant.  My sister went through 3 rounds of chemo for her assortment of diseases. It really kicked her butt. Wish me luck. Jim

Response: