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Steroids with Chemo: What is your experience?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 6 8:26am | Replies (19)Comment receiving replies
I also took Dexamethasone, once day before and once day after chemo session. I don't recall how it felt. Was also getting Firmagon each month. I finished 10 cycles of chemo in oct of 23. Funny I don't remember it all, only that the chemo was a ride. Thankfully my doctor never mentioned no cure, only that they can control it. I understand no cure at the moment, just don't want to hear those words. He said it's stage 4 aggressive and I fell off my chair. I think I got off track here but wish the best for all.
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"Cure" is an arbitrary word when it comes to cancer. As a patient (not a practioner), here's what I understand.
1. It's statistical milestone after cancer treatment. If you've gone a certain period of time without treatment and your cancer hasn't become detectable again (let's say, 5 years) you're pronounced "cured." They can't actually test if there are still dormant cancer cells hiding out — if there are, and the cells reactivate later. then they just say your cancer has "recurred."
2. It's a way of describing treatment. "Curative intent" means that they're giving you high doses with sometimes harsh side effects, in the hope of eliminating the cancer; "palliative intent" means they're giving you lower doses to help reduce pain, slow spread, and keep you comfortable.
To make thing even more confusing, my cancer (stage 4b oligometastatic) can't be "cured" — I expect to be on ADT and ARSI indefinitely — but I had "curative" doses of radiation to my prostate and spine anyway, to give me a better chance.