PSA 1550

We saw oncologist today, PSA is now at an all time high of 2225, higher even than when he was diagnosed.  Joe is very very fatigued, showering wears him out, nauseaous and minimal appetite, general achiness and just doesn't feel good.  Scheduled to start new study with Taxotere and Ketruda/placebo a week from today.  I thought I had seen some kind of a life expectancy calculator completed by entering PSA values, does anyone know what it's called or how to locate?  

It's been a rough couple of weeks.  the first week after the first dose of Taxotere was just awful.  Very sick, all the GI symptoms and incredible weakness in additional to ongoing fatigue.  Second week he felt a little better and the past week was pretty good.  infusion today and he's already sick this evening.  PSA up to 2822 today.  Started stronger pain meds 10 days ago, Norco, which has helped a little. Rough road so far.

VascodaGama said:

Could he stop chemo to allow recovery?

Sid

I can imagine the suffering you are through and I am sorry for that. I have been trying to help you and others here in the forum with opinions I got from own experience or acquired from researches and now I feel frustrated for having nothing to offer.

Chemotherapies are known to cause nasty symptoms. Same patients have to stop the infusions in the middle because the treatment become unbearable. I believe that his doctor is taking care on the matter but his work is to treat according to their institutional recommendations. Joe should follow his instincts and probably chose quality of living instead of continuing to knock down the cancer with this chemo that is not showing to be effective (as seen by the increasing PSA).

He needs to recover from the side effects before continuing with the treatment. I wonder about his liver enzymes.

I hope things get better and gives you some relief.

Best wishes.

VG

 

Thank you Vasco, I have SO appreciated your kind and wise words since i discovered this forum.  I believe you are right, I don't think Joe will likely choose to do too many rounds if he feels this badly each time (and I knowit's likely he will feel worse each time).  His biggest fear about stopping is given how aggressive this cancer has been, that he will not live much longer...maybe months.  And while we have faced the reality of his prognosis since the beginning, I expect it is human nature to always hope to be the exception and hopefully live much longer than the odds would predict.  

So far his labs have looked ok, liver and kidney function are good, CBC is all normal.  Just that darn PSA that won't come down.   I had hoped PSA might come down a little after his first round, maybe that was unrealistic.  

Hello everyone, it's been a while since i posted and Joe continues to struggle.  He has only been able to get through 3 rounds of chemo (Taxotere) because he's been so sick.  The last week or so he has really seemed to decline.  He is very very weak and exhausted.  I have to help him dress and he is having a hard time getting out of chair.  Last couple of days he has started with new back pain (he had mets to spine on original dx) and significant leg weakness, can hardly lift legs and shuffles when he walks.  His appetite is poor, nothing sounds good, still has nausea and occas vomiting and isn't drinking as well as usual.  His labs overall look ok, except most recent PSA is 5279 (up from 3300 four weeks ago).  He is tired of being tired and when we saw dr yesterday Joe basically said he was done with treatment since nothing seems to be working.  The dr was a little less empathetic than I'd have hoped, kept asking if he need to see a psychiatrist/counselor.  Good grief, yes, he's depressed but we know why and he's not interested in talking to stranger about it.  Then he said "well do you want to talk about hospice?"  Joe doesn't seem to want to do that either.  They gave him IV fluids and started on antibiotic (he's running a low grade temp) and he goes back Monday and thurs for more fluids.  It fees like  another switch has flipped and that he's really progressing quickly.  

Does this sound like typical progression to those of you who are way more experienced than me?  I'm always afraid that I'm missing something.  

Any insights are so appreciated.