Latest on IRE Nanoknife Focal experience

Hi,

Have not read any articles where the chemo will actually kill the cancer so you are cancer free. From the articles I read, the chemo buys you more time by slowing the growth. Please point me to the papers or articles that says chemo can kill all the Prostate cancer cells so I can educate myself, then chemo would be worth the side effects.

Dave 3+4

As mentioned above by Dave, and let's be clear about this. Chemo is a palliative treatment, meaning that it slows PCa growth by killing a percentage of PCa cells, but never all of them. Chemo is definitely not a path to a cure.

Yes, over the past 5 to 10 years, there is a growing body of evidence suggests strongly that hitting PCa hard with multiple simultaneous treatments tends to generate more positive outcomes in the fight against PCa. I was placed on the simultaneous Lupron/Abiraterone/Prednisone cocktail for 2 years coupled with SBRT, after cases that Dana Farber has been following with their international research partners in Europe produced positive outcomes for significantly longer term remissions, with even a few cases suggesting a potential cure.

I was never given any food timing restrictions with Zytiga, so this was not an issue there for me. The SBRT therapy was given in 3 visits, so there was no real scheduling issue with these treatments.

Side effects were similar to Lupron alone, so I was not impacted any more than when I was while on Lupron alone several years earlier. Not pleasant, but much better than dying, IMO.

You have been given good advice. The choice is up to you.

More in general, if you already have urinary issues, the longer course might be preferable. Just my opinion, of course.

I agree completely Dave 3+4

I had 28 radiation visits ending in June of 2023. Was also on Lupron at the time. My radiation oncologist never even mentioned SpaceOAR hydrogel. The radiation team just wanted me to make sure I had a full bladder and an empty rectum for each visit to "minimize" the chance of radiation damage to the rectum.

Within a few months after the radiation was finalized I started having bouts of rectal bleeding. My PCP recommended a gastroenterologist who scheduled me for a colonoscopy which determined that I had "chronic radiation proctitis." He started me on Mesalamine suppositories which were not fully covered by my insurance. They were a pain to use and didn't really help very much. A relative who had the same experience recommended using a high fiber supplement to bulk up the stool and that has helped tremendously. I still have occasional bouts of rectal bleeding and probably will for the rest of my life. As a bonus, I have been told that the damaged area in the rectum may be prone to a new cancer sometime in the future.

If I had been aware of the possibility of using the SpaceOAR hydrogel I would have INSISTED ON IT!

Older (and wiser) now…

Hi,

If it’s available you could look into Proton therapy which uses a fixed length beam that does not go past the tumor sight, thus no need for the gel. Might want to look around your area to see if this is offered.

Dave 3+4