Stage 4 Prostrate cancer metasised to the bones

Since no one has replied I'll tell you what I can.  Stage 4 mets is typically end stage. It is essentially incurable but is treatable. Some men have live a decade on hormone therapy and other treatments. New treatments are being developed all the time, but yes, they are expensive. Unfortunately at present you will likely never see remission, but life can be extended. Eventully the side effects of treatment may become more uncomfortable than the disease itself. Hope that helps.

welcome brother,, i was dxd with stage 4 metastatic in jan, 2017.. felt the effects in july 2016..  took the dumb **** that lo0ng to find out whats wrong eith me.. so i'm 2 years into it.. and i find that between the zytiga, prednisone, xgiva, lupron, hydrocodone, zoloft5, bourbon, pot some days are greater than others,,  love ya,, good luck

RobLee said:

Not me but some have survived for years

Since no one has replied I'll tell you what I can.  Stage 4 mets is typically end stage. It is essentially incurable but is treatable. Some men have live a decade on hormone therapy and other treatments. New treatments are being developed all the time, but yes, they are expensive. Unfortunately at present you will likely never see remission, but life can be extended. Eventully the side effects of treatment may become more uncomfortable than the disease itself. Hope that helps.

Shals,

I have had two friends die of PCa in the last seven years, the most recent was about 5 years ago.  Both received essentially every therapy then available, which is not a lot different from what exists today.  The second friend I assisted a lot, and was authorized to speak to his nurses offically, since he was not very clear-headed later on, and his relatives all lived out of state.  Between learning from his nurses, and then later getting PCa myself (Stage II), I have become fairly current, or try to be.

My "read" of your situation, not knowing a lot about it, is that both Rob and Vasco are correct.  Bone metastasis is the most common first site for PCa tumors to show in (after they have departed the gland itself), with a variety of other organs roughly tied thereafter, such as the lungs or liver. But anywhere is possible.

Both of my friends survived a remarkably similiar amount after time after first diagnosis with PCa: 13 years.  Both had surgery, IMRT, HT, and chemo. Only the more recent guy received Jevtana and Zytiga, as they were apparantly not available to the man who passed in around 2010 or 2011.

What seems most critical among the cases described here is timing of the HT.  HT application and withdrawal is part science, part art.  Vasco is by far the most expert in describing this of anyone I've ever heard discuss proper HT strategy.

While imaging for PCa tumors is not the best, what does seem to accurately show widespread involvement is PSA.  One friend (Gary) had been tracking PSA rise for a few years, and then I recall one day it had hit 66.  This was controlled with pallative use of chemo (which is usually Taxotere with Prednisone), and after that stopped being effective, then Jevtana and Zytiga.  Near the end, his PSA was over 1,000, with bone deformities.  I have heard of men limiting bone pain via spot radiation, but Gary never chose this.  I got an-email from the other friend, Ed, who said that "bone pain was too severe for the morphine to touch," and that her had ordered an end to chemo. He died two days later, but my point is that his metastasis also, as far as his doctors knew, was to the bone.

More than anything, a man on HT needs a world-class expert in medical oncology. Urological oncologists are usually NOT this.  Even among medical oncologists, some are highly conversant in PCa, others less so. You need a doctor who specializes in advanced PCa itslef.

As to time, no man can say, but I have read accounts of men here living a long, long time on HT, and doing well.

max

holy ****,, my PSA went to 74,, was 22.4 last month,, hope it wasn't because i drank that bottle of woodford reserve , because it was derby week here in louisville

foamhand said:

2nd year of Stage 4 Hormone therapy / Clinical trial

I was diagnosed in May 2016 and referred to a clinical trial. I have several bone mets but not very big and painless most all the time. My Dr. said most of my aches / pains are more from the HT drugs and getting older. I am currently able to handle any pain with OTC meds. I was on Effexor for hot flashes and am trying to get off of it now. It is by far the most troublesome med issue I have now. I am in pretty good health otherwise and still work. The fatigue is an issue but I take 10mg Adderall XR daily which helps alot. No addiction issues so far (it's an amphetamine) but i want to keep it at a low dose so I don't even mention increasing the dose to My Dr. He probably wouldn't agree anyway. 

Mentally, I try to keep my attitude as "Ok, I have Pca, so what. Keep pushing thru and live life"

This is just my experience. Hope it helps.

foamhand

 

Hey foamy, I'm curious what is the issue with Effexor? You mentioned it is "most troublesome". I realize that SNRI discontinuation is a slow, difficult process. I've even heard it is worse than narcotic withdrawal. Is the "trouble" you mentioned just getting off of it?

I've been on Effexor for a year now and upped my dose to 150mg in early January. I have to say that life on Effexor is better than life was without it (though I had never taken any sort of antidepressant or tranquilizer before a year ago).

I mentioned to my wife that I may be on it for the rest of my life. The HT should be ending by the end of this year, and will take a while to wear off, but the moodiness I had been going thru since my cancer battle started about four years ago was really tearing me up. The Effexor has made me a much happier man and a nicer person to be around. 

I understand why you would want to get off any meds you don't need anymore, but was wondering if you had a problem in particular with the Effexor.

lorijeannj said:

The bottle of Woodford was

The bottle of Woodford was Justify'd.

Will we have a Triple Crown winner this year? Send your bets my way please...