Prostate Cancer, Stage 4, spine & pelvis, Eligard, now abiraterone

Posted by albert785 @albert785, Sep 13 8:06pm

Hi, as the topic says, I am Stage 4, they started me on Elegard and less than 3 months later they want me to start taking abiraterone (Zytiga) along with prednisme.
Has anyone run into this situation that can tell me their experience?
Thank you very much.

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@albert785

Sorry about time delay. Wasn't feeling well.
My Prostate cancer was discovered from sample during my TURP. Sample came back as 90% cancer. After labs I had a Gleason of 4+3=7. Next was my PET Scan that showed I was Stage 4 (it was in pelvis, spine, right shoulder, and lymph nodes, were saturated.

Was told that I couldn't do radiation because something to do with my kidneys and I refused chemo. Next was my bone span. Showed extensive in above mentioned.

They are now talking the Zytiga and prednisone.

I should tell you they gave me approximately 2 years. During this time I am looking for quality of life. I'm 71 and work every day on my feet. The Eligard makes me tired enough I don't know what the Zytiga will do.

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Not my business, just curious why you refuse the chemo treatment, Best to you.

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My prognosis is 2 years max. I want quality of life for as long as I can. In my situation and health chemo would not give me any longer quality of life I would just more than likely be sick most of the time. Don't want sick for 10 days, two days half way comfortable, time for chemo again. Want to enjoy as much of what I have left. Everyone is given different prognosis' I chose no chemo to have as many good days as possible.

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@lag

My husband is Stage 4 and has had many metastases over the years, mostly on his spine, but also on other bony spots. He has been on Lupron for many years, and took Zytiga with prednisone daily, which kept the cancer in remission for three years. After Zytiga stopped working, he had Pluvicto infusions, which he finished last month. Depending on the results of a scan later this month, we will learn next steps, of which there are many. So hang in there---many treatment options exist which can keep the cancer under control for quite a while.

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Start Chemo this week for bone mets in spine Did all the stuff Xtandi Xofigio Hope this works PSA 61 Feel great Keep my posted please I want P 177 but not std of care

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@albert785

My prognosis is 2 years max. I want quality of life for as long as I can. In my situation and health chemo would not give me any longer quality of life I would just more than likely be sick most of the time. Don't want sick for 10 days, two days half way comfortable, time for chemo again. Want to enjoy as much of what I have left. Everyone is given different prognosis' I chose no chemo to have as many good days as possible.

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Giving you a prognosis of two years with a Gleason score of seven is almost malpractice. You need to find yourself a Genito urinary oncologist who can give you true information not false information. You may even need to see a different radiation oncologist to get another opinion.

People that had much worse cancer than you and are still alive 5+ years later.

Zytiga and prednisone will reduce your metastasis size and stop them from growing. That alone could give you another couple of years and there are drugs to use after that stops working.

Don’t be afraid of chemo, it is much easier to live with now than it was many years ago. There are fewer side effects than they used to be. It can extend your life along with Zytiga and Lupron. Have they talked to you about having Lupron or Eligard? You should actually be on one of them already.

Did your doctors at all discuss getting radium 223 which is designed to be used if you have a lot of bone metastasis.

Another thing that the doctors should consider is Pluvicto. It works very well to reduce many metastasis in some people that have cancer like you have. They prefer to do it after chemo, but that is not essential.

You can even get yourself a cold cap to put on your head to stop you from losing your hair during chemo. It’s the type of thing, you put in the freezer to get cold in preparation. Even Amazon sells them.

If radiation is truly not possible then surgery, a prostatectomy, would make sense according to a lot of doctors in order to stop your cancer from spreading more.

Have you been to a mayo clinic? There a number of doctors will review your case and give you advice that’s probably a lot better than what you’re getting now.

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I'm 72 and was diagnosed one year ago with pelvic and T9 vertebra. I was started on Elegard, Abiraterone and chemo. I followed that with radiation at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
My side effects were manageable through this process. I purposefully remained very active and went to a vegan diet.
My last MRI at the end of July showed no detectible metastatic cancer. Still on Elegard and Abiraterone. Hopefully the cancer will continue to degrade.

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I have been on both for 6 months after 1 month of radiation. The Eligard seems to bring on fatigue and the abiraterone messes with my liver enzymes so I have been varying dosage. Seems to be effective tho’.

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@proftom2

Stage 4, mets to liver, lungs, bones, 3.9 years in. I am on second progression (Biochemical Recurrence). Currently on Eligard, Zytiga and dexAMETHasone, PSMA Scan next month (October). Low/Moderate Exercise everyday at least 60 minutes, diet is nutritionally based, social life is grand, and faith is wonderful. RLE (Relative Life Expectancy) is great. Started age 67, never thought I'd live to see 70, I just turned 71. Best version, wellness driven and wholeness guided.

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Hi Proftom2,

I am on Eligard (6 mos) plus abiraterone and prednisone.
I was told the abiraterone helps with long term recurrence and the prednisone counteracts some of the side effects. However, I know each case is unique and the treatment protocol might vary. I had Gleason score 9 PC and my PSA has been at 0.0 for the past 3 blood tests. The only issue has been finding s dose of abiraterone that doesn’t elevate my liver enzymes (bilirubin, AST and ALT). Anyway, best to you and may you be worry free.

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@proftom2

Stage 4, mets to liver, lungs, bones, 3.9 years in. I am on second progression (Biochemical Recurrence). Currently on Eligard, Zytiga and dexAMETHasone, PSMA Scan next month (October). Low/Moderate Exercise everyday at least 60 minutes, diet is nutritionally based, social life is grand, and faith is wonderful. RLE (Relative Life Expectancy) is great. Started age 67, never thought I'd live to see 70, I just turned 71. Best version, wellness driven and wholeness guided.

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What wellness and wholeness changes did you make or do? My dad is stage 4 prostate cancer and we are looking at whole body health to help his body fight the cancer.

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@sicernon3

Hi Proftom2,

I am on Eligard (6 mos) plus abiraterone and prednisone.
I was told the abiraterone helps with long term recurrence and the prednisone counteracts some of the side effects. However, I know each case is unique and the treatment protocol might vary. I had Gleason score 9 PC and my PSA has been at 0.0 for the past 3 blood tests. The only issue has been finding s dose of abiraterone that doesn’t elevate my liver enzymes (bilirubin, AST and ALT). Anyway, best to you and may you be worry free.

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FYI- I only take one pill of Arbiterone with the prednisone in the am with a low fat breakfast/ my MO. My liver enzymes have been fine so fat for 17 months.

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@ecurb

FYI- I only take one pill of Arbiterone with the prednisone in the am with a low fat breakfast/ my MO. My liver enzymes have been fine so fat for 17 months.

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This works quite well with the right breakfast. Problem is the one pill with food gets the same amount of abiraterone into your system as four pills on an empty stomach.

Shouldn’t make any difference to the blood tests. I took four pills for 2 1/2 years and never had problems with the blood tests.

Everybody’s system reacts differently

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