News from MDACC

VascodaGama said:

Life continues to be beautiful
Ralph

Your post is short and depressing. Sincerely I cannot understand your doctor’s comment.
I am sorry for the news on the progress but is it the end of the line in HT? I do not think so.
Similar drugs to Zytiga such as Ketoconazole (in action for 20 years) got very good results in PCa advanced treatment. This acts similarly to Zytiga, it is affordable and a substitute to control intratumoral cancer activity.
Instead of discussing the next “level” it might be worth to discuss about the next “step”.

The team at MD has been good in the control with Zytiga but they follow the trial’s protocol. They may want to introduce you a continuing trial (probably already established) for the ones who have failed Zytiga.
I would discuss with them on alternatives away from the “Zytiga environment”. Probably speaking with someone (doctor) that is not involved in the trial.

I would recommend you to get this book that explains in clear words about possible drugs in your next step as well as the ones for your next level. Very informative about options and the side effects of the drugs;
“Promoting Wellness Beyond Hormone Therapy: Options for Prostate Cancer Patients”, by Mark Moyad.

I would go further and suggest you to get a consultation away from MD to have a wider picture of your case. It does not mean that you move away from the team at MD but to give you a different perspective of the future.

Life continues to be beautiful.

Cheer up buddy.

Best.
VG

laserlight said:

Ralph
We can all agree that prostate cancer sucks big time. What I found with this monster is that you have to follow what you feel is the best treatment path.

It looks like your doctors at MDACC are on target.

Prostate cancer for the most part is not a one size fits all.

Different drugs and treatment methods have success and failures.

I welcome the day that a medication arrives that cures Prostate cancer, in my case that would be to late, but for future generations very welcomed.

I now use all of my life skills in this fight.

Keep the faith and hang in there, We are all brothers in this fight


Kurt

caseyh said:

A Second Opinion
Ralph

I am in my 13th year of survival, but still battling disease. Over the years I have been treated at an Ivy League university hospital and at a world famous cancer center. My doctors were both highly regarded professionally and highly regarded in the prostate cancer community. Despite the excellence of these institutions and the doctors, I eventually found it necessary to seek out doctors, who in my opinion, offered better treatment options for my disease. I think that it is safe to say that the reputation of an institution does not always guarantee the best available care for all of its patients.

I believe that all of us with with intermediate to high risk disease will spend the rest of our lives managing the disease. I also believe that treating the disease is both a science and an art. Large institutions tend not to be very flexible with their treatment protocols. There are five or six university hospitals in NYC, and they all approach the treatment of Pca pretty much from the same perspective. Some top-notch Pca oncologists outside of these institutions have a broader philosophical approach to treating Pca.

I agree with VG's suggestion that you seek the opinion of another Pca oncologist. A fresh perspective from a doctor who thinks “out of the box” would be extremely valuable. This is not to suggest that you are not receiving excellent care at MDACC, but rather to suggest that there are some doctors who might offer a different perspective on how to best approach your disease.

VG mentioned in another post that Dr. Charles Myers is his hero. Mine too. He is especially good with advanced PCa cases and worthy of your consideration for a consultation. We constantly tell people to get second opinions at the time of diagnosis. I think that it is even more important at times like this. I hope that you will give the idea some consideration.

I am a Vietnam era veteran who never left the U.S. I was a Fire Control Operator on a Nike Hercules site for 3 ½ years. I thank you for your service and wish you all the best. I have read many of your posts, and I have come to greatly admire you over time.

Best Regards,
Caseyh