Xjeva Experiences

nowrest

The old Doc. just put me on Xjeva shots as it apperas my Cancer may be getting to take a trip to the bones. Anyone here have experince with this drug?

Samsungtech1

Xjeva
Are you sure youngotmthe name right? Never saw that up here, but I did not google it either. You do not provide much info. Gleason, did it escape the prostate? How long has this been going on? (old song). More info would help.

Mike

tspoon

xgeva
Of all the things that PCa will put you through, and all the treatments do, this will be a shot on the arm. Hubby has 1.5 yrs and it is just that, a shot in the arm.

Samsungtech1

Xgeva
I was looking up your drug just now and it said that the FDA just came out against the use of this drug for prostate cancer treatment. You should look into this.

mrspjd

Samsungtech1 said:

Xgeva
I was looking up your drug just now and it said that the FDA just came out against the use of this drug for prostate cancer treatment. You should look into this.

Xgeva
Mike,

I haven’t seen any recent safety notices from the FDA for Xgeva that pertain to PCa. If you are aware of any, please post the link(s). You might be thinking of a recent thread discussing Xgeva that contained the text from an April 26th Reuters report:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/27/us-amgen-idUSBRE83Q05M20120427

That Reuters report indicated that the FDA “rejected an application by Amgen to market denosumab (Xgeva®) AS A TX TO DELAY THE ONSET of bone metastases in men with NON-METASTATIC, castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPCa).

The Reuters report goes on to state: "The FDA’s most recent decision HAS NO EFFECT ON THE CURRENTLY APPROVED USE of denosumab for the PREVENTION of fractures and other skeletal-related events IN MEN WITH METASTATIC PROSTATE CANCER."

Xgeva may be a very appropriate and important drug to consider in cases of advanced metastatic PCa for "PREVENTION of fractures and other skeletal-related events in men with metastatic prostate cancer." Unfortunately, every PCa drug and tx has a wide range of side effects and risks, some more serious than others. Each patient must evaluate pros and cons and risks vs benefits to determine what level of calculated risk they are willing to take. This will be different for each patient and may be a more challenging process in advanced or aggressive PCa cases. Do your own research and always talk with your doctor about possible drug interactions and the risks vs benefits of any drug txs.

Best,
mrs pjd

Samsungtech1

mrspjd said:

Xgeva
Mike,

I haven’t seen any recent safety notices from the FDA for Xgeva that pertain to PCa. If you are aware of any, please post the link(s). You might be thinking of a recent thread discussing Xgeva that contained the text from an April 26th Reuters report:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/27/us-amgen-idUSBRE83Q05M20120427

That Reuters report indicated that the FDA “rejected an application by Amgen to market denosumab (Xgeva®) AS A TX TO DELAY THE ONSET of bone metastases in men with NON-METASTATIC, castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPCa).

The Reuters report goes on to state: "The FDA’s most recent decision HAS NO EFFECT ON THE CURRENTLY APPROVED USE of denosumab for the PREVENTION of fractures and other skeletal-related events IN MEN WITH METASTATIC PROSTATE CANCER."

Xgeva may be a very appropriate and important drug to consider in cases of advanced metastatic PCa for "PREVENTION of fractures and other skeletal-related events in men with metastatic prostate cancer." Unfortunately, every PCa drug and tx has a wide range of side effects and risks, some more serious than others. Each patient must evaluate pros and cons and risks vs benefits to determine what level of calculated risk they are willing to take. This will be different for each patient and may be a more challenging process in advanced or aggressive PCa cases. Do your own research and always talk with your doctor about possible drug interactions and the risks vs benefits of any drug txs.

Best,
mrs pjd

Xgeva
All I did was search for the drug, and it brought me to the Los Angeles Times, dated February 8th, 2012. I am on my Ipad right now and it does not like me doing certain things. Can copy it and send to site on Monday. Have you searched it? I did it twice and it came up both times.
I had not heard of this drug and like to see what they are about for future references.
I did more searching and the NICE panel in England rejected it as well. As far as helping with fractures they state that this drug cuts off the blood supply to the jaw and destroys it. Does not sound good to me.
Has anyone seen good reviews in the year 2012?

Mike

mrspjd

Samsungtech1 said:

Xgeva
All I did was search for the drug, and it brought me to the Los Angeles Times, dated February 8th, 2012. I am on my Ipad right now and it does not like me doing certain things. Can copy it and send to site on Monday. Have you searched it? I did it twice and it came up both times.
I had not heard of this drug and like to see what they are about for future references.
I did more searching and the NICE panel in England rejected it as well. As far as helping with fractures they state that this drug cuts off the blood supply to the jaw and destroys it. Does not sound good to me.
Has anyone seen good reviews in the year 2012?

Mike

Same info as the Reuters article
Thx mike,

I'm on my iPhone too. Here's the link to the LA Times article I think you're referencing:
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/08/business/la-fi-amgen-20120208

nowrest

Hornets nest
Looks like I stirred up a hornets nest with my Xgeva question. Yes it is used for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastatases from solid tumors.
Yes it has two bad possible side effect:
Hypocalcemia which is reduction of calcium levels.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw which can cause major problems.

My question was to find out if anyone has used this medicine did they have any of these side effects.

Samsungtech1

nowrest said:

Hornets nest
Looks like I stirred up a hornets nest with my Xgeva question. Yes it is used for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastatases from solid tumors.
Yes it has two bad possible side effect:
Hypocalcemia which is reduction of calcium levels.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw which can cause major problems.

My question was to find out if anyone has used this medicine did they have any of these side effects.

Xgeva
Nowrest,
Knowledge is not a bad thing. When I started I thought you were referring to another drug, Zytigia, but now I knpw this drug. Courious as to why he would put you on that when you imply it has not spread to the bones yet. They used radiosurgery to remove the nodules in my lungs, and my Onc and I know it is coming back, but he put me on Deglasix. A few guys are on Zytigia, like others here they know it is coming back, but where is the question, thus testing every three months.

Why would he put you on this drug knowing it has been turned down by the FDA, and the NICE panel in England?

I definetly am not knowledgable as I should be on this subject but others are, and sometimes we post what we think is right, and others will correct us. It is a good thing. It helps all of us expand our knowledge and make sure that it is correct.

Mike

mrspjd

Samsungtech1 said:

Xgeva
Nowrest,
Knowledge is not a bad thing. When I started I thought you were referring to another drug, Zytigia, but now I knpw this drug. Courious as to why he would put you on that when you imply it has not spread to the bones yet. They used radiosurgery to remove the nodules in my lungs, and my Onc and I know it is coming back, but he put me on Deglasix. A few guys are on Zytigia, like others here they know it is coming back, but where is the question, thus testing every three months.

Why would he put you on this drug knowing it has been turned down by the FDA, and the NICE panel in England?

I definetly am not knowledgable as I should be on this subject but others are, and sometimes we post what we think is right, and others will correct us. It is a good thing. It helps all of us expand our knowledge and make sure that it is correct.

Mike

Nowrest,
Nowrest,

I’m really sorry you are dealing with advanced PCa with bone mets. Sorry, also, if there was any misunderstanding and your questions have not yet been addressed by other members using Xgeva (of which I believe they are few in number who regularly post on this forum). No matter, you deserve some responses.

Recently there was some confusion among a few forum posters who incorrectly thought that the FDA had "come out against the use of Xgeva." They have NOT! Amgen, the maker of Xgeva, had applied to the FDA for a slightly different use for Xgeva in patients with non-metastatic PCa. That application/use was not approved by the FDA but it did NOT affect the current approved use of Xgeva in patients with advanced metastatic PCa & bone mets, as indicated.

I am a firm believer that the benefits of Xgeva outweigh the risk and, I support it’s current use as a very valuable tool in the care of advanced metastatic PCa patients, especially in combination with Zytiga. Therefore, it was important to clarify any misinformation that was previously posted about Xgeva. Sometimes media reports and medical news articles can really screw things up & make info hard to understand and more confusing than it actually is!

A few men in the face to face PCa networking group we attend are on the combination of Xgeva & Zytiga for advanced met PCa. Both men are doing very well and, in their cases, F-18 CT/PET imaging has shown slowed or no bone met progression with the use of Xgeva and Zytiga! When starting Xgeva, if you need any major dental wk done, it’s recommended that you see a dentist soon due to the possible side effect of osteonecrosis of the jaw, just as when you were on Zometa infusions. IMHO, it would be prudent to follow the same advice you were given when you were on Zometa (9/1/11). Your PCa onc will be carefully monitoring your blood work regularly to see how you’re doing.

I hope you receive the feedback & support here that you requested about Xgeva experiences. Your other posts indicate just how much you’ve been through. I applaud your courage. Wishing you all the best.

Samsungtech1

mrspjd said:

Nowrest,
Nowrest,

I’m really sorry you are dealing with advanced PCa with bone mets. Sorry, also, if there was any misunderstanding and your questions have not yet been addressed by other members using Xgeva (of which I believe they are few in number who regularly post on this forum). No matter, you deserve some responses.

Recently there was some confusion among a few forum posters who incorrectly thought that the FDA had "come out against the use of Xgeva." They have NOT! Amgen, the maker of Xgeva, had applied to the FDA for a slightly different use for Xgeva in patients with non-metastatic PCa. That application/use was not approved by the FDA but it did NOT affect the current approved use of Xgeva in patients with advanced metastatic PCa & bone mets, as indicated.

I am a firm believer that the benefits of Xgeva outweigh the risk and, I support it’s current use as a very valuable tool in the care of advanced metastatic PCa patients, especially in combination with Zytiga. Therefore, it was important to clarify any misinformation that was previously posted about Xgeva. Sometimes media reports and medical news articles can really screw things up & make info hard to understand and more confusing than it actually is!

A few men in the face to face PCa networking group we attend are on the combination of Xgeva & Zytiga for advanced met PCa. Both men are doing very well and, in their cases, F-18 CT/PET imaging has shown slowed or no bone met progression with the use of Xgeva and Zytiga! When starting Xgeva, if you need any major dental wk done, it’s recommended that you see a dentist soon due to the possible side effect of osteonecrosis of the jaw, just as when you were on Zometa infusions. IMHO, it would be prudent to follow the same advice you were given when you were on Zometa (9/1/11). Your PCa onc will be carefully monitoring your blood work regularly to see how you’re doing.

I hope you receive the feedback & support here that you requested about Xgeva experiences. Your other posts indicate just how much you’ve been through. I applaud your courage. Wishing you all the best.

Thank You
Mrspjd,
Thank you for clearing this up for me. Never know what treatment I will be on next so good to find out what is going on. I guess I am confused about this drug. Sure it will be in my thoughts for the future, but if they aremsaying,it is not good then why use it?

Mike

tspoon

tspoon said:

xgeva
Of all the things that PCa will put you through, and all the treatments do, this will be a shot on the arm. Hubby has 1.5 yrs and it is just that, a shot in the arm.

jaw issues
Every now and then he complains of his jaw hurting. Weekly or so he may say ow, it hurts to chew right now. I should say he has worn full dentures for over 20 yrs, so no dental to worry about. But, when I ask he says pain is just occassional, stretches his jaw and eats.

mrspjd

tspoon said:

jaw issues
Every now and then he complains of his jaw hurting. Weekly or so he may say ow, it hurts to chew right now. I should say he has worn full dentures for over 20 yrs, so no dental to worry about. But, when I ask he says pain is just occassional, stretches his jaw and eats.

ONJ
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) has to do with bone loss and, while infrequent, is a possible risk/side effect from the use of Xgeva or Zometa and a class of drugs called bisphosphonates. It may occur independently of whether a patient wears full or partial dentures, dental implants or has his own natural teeth. One symptom may be jaw pain. If experiencing jaw pain while on Xgeva or Zometa, it would be wise to discuss this with your PCa onc soonest.

Supplement with calcium and vitamin D as necessary to prevent or treat hypocalcemia. Again, see your PCa onc to discuss appropriate supplement dosing.

You may wish to read about the safety and tolerability data for Xgeva here:
http://www.xgeva.com/urology/xgeva-safety-tolerability.html

nowrest

Thank you to everyone who replied. Good answers and advise.