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Prognosis for Stage 4 Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Apr 17 10:20am | Replies (95)Comment receiving replies
I did ask "how long" when I found out about my oligometastatic prostate cancer. The initial answer was that it's typically around 4–5 years, but because I was young (56 at the time) and relatively healthy otherwise, possibly 6–7 years.
Now, 2½ years later, they're not setting an upper limit any more, and saying it might be 10+ years before I need any additional treatment (like chemo), although I know there are no guarantees, and I'm always just one blood test away from bad news.
They're still collecting long-term data on newer treatments and approaches not, so the real answer is that they just don't know yet.
Replies to "I did ask "how long" when I found out about my oligometastatic prostate cancer. The initial..."
Apparently there is a study now by Xtandi. That found that the recurrent rate at 5 years is
10% if treated with Xtandi plus ADT
20% if Xtandi alone
30% ADT alone.
For the 10% after 5 years they can go on to other treatments.
There is as yet no study result that includes chemo as the third leg of the triplet. But doctors do seem to believe there is benefit. How much?
We all wish they do the study.
Dont mind me. I am just another layman trying to make some sense of the whole thing.
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I went for a second opinion at Johns Hopkins and that doctors said the average was 7 years. He then said, but that does not at 7 years people die, rather they are still alive and might start having issues again. That was before triplet therapy was adopted as the standard of care. Remember, that the stats on the internet are mostly based on the SEERS data which is mostly just ADT and gave stage 4 prostate cancer patient 1-3 years. My doctors immediately refuted that data as old and out dated based on advanced with treating stage 4 prostate cancer in the last 6 years. That was stated in year 2022. I was told not to consider that data and that they could hopefully just treat my disease as chronic illness and that living with this disease and dying of something else is more probable. Again, everyone is different and responds differently to treatment. Some people never achieve undetectable PSA and the stats are different for those individuals. But I speak to many men that have been fighting this disease for 8+ years and their PSA is like 50. So, I think it depends on how well the cancer is controlled. I asked for Radium 227 but my doctor said Radium 227 is reserved for Castrate Resistant patients. So, I hope I never need Radium 227 and remain castrate sensitive for many many years. On another note, I recently joined a clinical study that does a different kind of genetic/genomic testing for mutations. It was a saliva test. Mine came back with nothing again. I previously had genetic and genomic blood testing and all came back negative for any known mutations (i.e., BRAC1, BRAC2 etc). Lastly, my Nurse Practitioner that exclusively works with cancer patients that I see at the Life With Cancer group says that 10-15% of people with stage prostate cancer and some other cancers - the cancer never returns. Let us pray we are in that group. God Bless everyone - stay string, stay positive. Have a purpose to live and fight. For anyone struggling, I pray the cancer stands down and dies from any treatment you may be facing. Die cancer die!!!!