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Advanced Stage (Stage 4) Prostrate Cancer

ships
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My dad (age 58 years) was diagnosed with Stage IV prostate cancer 2 weeks ago. He also has DVT and he is on Clexane 0.6mg twice a day. Doctor had immediately started Caluran 50mg thrice a day after biopsy was done. His PSA reduced from 72.5 to 60 after medication. His gleason score is 9 (4+5). Doctors suggested hormonal treatment and we chose to go through medication (inj. Degarelix). Doctors say they will start chemotherapy along with hormonal treatment for better results. They say we have an option of going with the drug called 'Abiraterone' instead of chemotherapy at some point body would stop responding to this drug and then chemotherapy has to be given. I would request answers to the following questions:
1. What is the approximate time period for which body can respond to this drug Abiraterone? 
2. Is there a possibility that this drug is alone sufficient in the long run and there would not be any need to chemotherapy? 
3. Going with the doctor's comments that chemotherapy would be required later, is there a possibility that our research takes a leap forward and we won't need chemotherapy anymore and instead medication would be sufficient?
4. What is a better option to take at this time, chemotherapy or medication with Abiraterone, considering patient is ready for either.

Current medications:
1. Degarelix 240mg was taken once 2 days ago for the first time. 
2. Inj. Clexane 0.6mg twice a day
3. Urimax tab. 
4. Bond 7 tab. (calcium tablets)
5. Amlo 5mg (for BP)

Please give your valuable suggestions and let me know for any further details.

  • Offline

    Hi

    First sorry to hear about your dad, it's the worst type of news anyone can recieve.

    In answer to some of your questions, first Arberaterone is a new first class drug that shrinks the tumours it has very good results, no one can tell you how fast it works but it will certainly help.

    Unfortunatly your dad is like me Gleason 9 stage 4 which means not curable but treatable, all drugs for us at this stage keep the desease at bay, but sooner or later it will flair up again then another plan of attack is required.

    Like your dad, I live in hope that someone will come up with a new method or drug to combat PC they are testing new medication all the time mixing and matching we just hope it's sooner rather than later.

    It is a very hard decision, if the prostate has not gone metistic and is contained in the prostate then chemotherapy and hormone therapy would be best saving Arberaterone for a later date, as once you've had Arberaterone you cannot use it again as the body is already rejected that drug and its run its course.

    Everyone is different and its a hard decision to make, with me mine went metastistic into my shoulder and ribs, I was put in for a trial called Stampede I have done all the medication and I am on three monthly hormone injections and monitored every three months with bloods etc, unfortunately I have a few side effects to contend with but I ll fight as long as I can.

    Hope some of this helps best wishes to your dad in his choice.

    Joe

  • Offline in reply to joeven
    Thank you Joe for your support. Hope you too get well soon. By the way how many years have you survived cancer? Thanks again. Get well soon!
  • Offline in reply to ships

    Hi

    Diagnosed at beginning of July 2016 I had docetaxel chemo, 20. sessions of radiotherapy and on three monthly hormone injections ( Prostap 3 ) I have had a fair few side effects, sleep is a thing of the past, at the moment I am doing physiotherapy for my back, I have a type of rheumatic in my fingers and I have acid reglux which gives some stomach aches and pains, not to mention the metistic in my shoulder and ribs that give pain now and then.

    Having said all that I just get used to what's going on, sometimes it's a struggle as I do not take pain killers, I have a fair pain threshold and the way I see it in the future when the pain increases I will need them then.

    Being on a trial helps because if there's something new out there we are the people who try it out, although I am hoping I don't need any for a while. I started with a PSA of 893 now it's 0.04 I changed a lot of things eating drinking excersise a few supplements. 

    I am 65 and retired I was very active in the job I did ( maintenance ) now I am lucky if I can kneel down and fix the toilet or leaking taps etc.

    I have wrote a book about what went on as I went through all the different treatments and side effects, it's about twenty pages long and I am about a third of the way through my journey, just for my personal reference.

    Me going on a bit there sorry, 

    keep safe

    Joe

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