Early Chemo - Chemotherapy,Advanced prostate cancer,Advice / Support

I believe Stampede has determined that early chemo works best for some people and yes, I think we are waiting for NICE to change their guidance. I'm not sure why your oncologist says there is only a three month window of opportunity though as that's new to me.

I'd be interested in other comments on this one. It does feel a bit like touting for business!

I am surprised that anyone would give a definitive point of view in extending life in these circumstances, I know there is an overall advantage seen in Stampede (the trial that proved this point) but it can't be said to be specific to an individual. One thing that becomes increasingly clear about PCs is that everyone is different.

Anyway, welcome to the forum.

Kind regards

Allison

Nevyn,

I have just seen your post Chemo is not on the cards for us because of other health problems but Irun (Kev ) and Si (Si Ness) have had early chemo , please look up there names and send them a Pm to get info. If you look on there Bios it will give you more information.

You just need to click on there avatars and it should come up, post back if you have a problem.

BFN

Julie X

I'm really sad to hear that some men are being denied early chemo. Tony was offered -and accepted - it by the oncologist last November, two months after being diagnosed with advanced, metastatic Pca. This was in Torbay hospital, on the NHS, and nothing was said about funding being an issue. This was on the basis of the US-based CHAARTED study. The Stampede results, which came out only after he had finished the chemo, confirmed that he had made the right decision in accepting this treatment, and we realise now how lucky he was to have that opportunity.

Marje

Edited by member 29 Jul 2015 at 21:19  | Reason: Not specified

I suppose the 3-month thing is because the men in the trials were recently diagnosed. As you say, the cancer could have been there, unsuspected and untreated, for some time before diagnosis, but the time of diagnosis is the first measuring point they can start at. It's a bit arbitrary, but it's all they can do.

The 22-month (median) extra life expectancy was for men with advanced bone mets; the advantage is probably less for a cancer that is less advanced. I think, too, that the men in the trials were under 70, and I know that an 82-year-old who was diagnosed by the same consultant at the same time as Tony was not offered chemo. That's why I'm not sure that demand would be high - when you narrow down the criteria to those who would probably benefit most (advanced Pca, under 70, otherwise fit), and then allow for the fact that many men would choose not to have chemo, I don't think the numbers would be overwheming.
Marje

When was your staging moved to T4N0M1 ?

I seem to remember you were originally diagnosed as T3aN0MO

This might be why you were not offered stampede back then, at that time (please correct me anyone if I am wrong) the arms of the stampede trial that were recruiting were only open to newly diagnosed men with metastatic PCa. Your staging back then was not showing Mets. Some men got the early chemo if they were randomly selected for it in that arm of the trial.

Now your staging is showing early Mets so I would definitely push for a 2nd opinion and if you want it and can get it go for chemo. The fact you are only 57 and I assume other than PCa fit and well would align you with others who have had positive benefit from going this route.

The 22 month figure is a bit vague as many men involved in the trials are still doing well today. The true figures take many years to be accurately reflected.

I am a firm believer in hitting this cancer with everything you can as soon as you can if diagnosed with metastatic spread when a man is relatively young fit and otherwise healthy.

I wish you all the best at your review today. Take notes or ask if you can record the conversation, especially if you are going on your own. At least then you can play back to get complete recall.

Xx

Mo

I remembered your earlier posts because you were hoping to get onto the Opalarib trial I think and had been asked all about your family history etc. I think that trial is something I wil be looking at in the Unversity course I am about to start.

In going backwards on the forum to when I first posted to you in order to jog my failing memory it was actually on Kelpie's thread (you had a little run of posts on here) not your own, I have managed to pick up his original diagnosis staging not yours. Many apologies

I hope all has gone well with your appointment today

best wishes

xx

Mo

GP is referring me to the Royal Marsden for a 2nd opinion. Fingers crossed...

I am not sure that the meaning is wrong after all it is what it is, Chemo given early.

I have no doubts at all after I have seen how people I have around me have responded to it and hearing Jamie explain his rational behind it all, that for reasonably fit and otherwise healthy men diagnosed with metastatic disease that this early use of chemo gives them a good chance of a much better outcome and extends life when it is still of a higher quality.

I would agree the label is probably misrepresentative, chemo is chemo and tends to be the same type given in the same way. It is still palliative treatment so maybe a better label would be primary chemo ...after all there are many men who go through this treatment more than once in their journey.

missed you so I am glad to see you have caught up with the forum already

best wishes and a big hug to you and John

xx

Mo

Update:

Nobody's budging, got my MP involved but still nothing. Never did hear from RM despite chasing...

Saw Onco today and went private. Treatment starts next week, 6 cycles Docatexel at 3 week intervals. Relieved that it's finally happening, but a bit apprehensive about the side-effects. We shall see...

PSA now 2.4