Okay, that's good; adding bicalutimide sometimes just gives the Zoladex the little boost it needs to work more effectively. The Zoladex should stop all production of testosterone but when it stops working so well, the bicalutimide disguises whatever testosterone is there so that the cancer cells can't find it. We have had men here for whom adding bicalutimide worked for 2 years or more. Eventually though, the cancer realises it is being tricked and learns to actually feed on the bical, at which point the oncologist will pull your husband off it - this leads to an anti-androgen withdrawal ... the cancer thinks it is being starved again.
Add in possibilities of more chemo (worked brilliantly last time & so there is a good chance of it working again), abi or enza (both of which will kick the testosterone out of the park and starve the cancer), radium 223 (if he has bone mets) ... there are still lots of tools in the bag. The onco might even decide to try one or more of those things and leave bical as a future option.
Don't lose hope - you have a long way to go, I think.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
|
User
Hi Susie W,
How is your husband doing?
I lost all contacts in my phone, so have been unable to make contract.
Hope all is well with you.
User
Hello,
My husband hasn't been feeling too good lately, so we decided to ask for a PSA test now, rather than wait till January.
His PSA has gone from 1.4 in June to 2.99, is that a significant rise in that time?
Oncologist is arranging a PET Scan for next week.
Thanks
Catherine
User
Did they add the bicalutimide after you last posted in June?
His doubling time is less than 6 months so it is probably the right time to add a new treatment.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
|
User
Hi Lyn
Thanks for your response.
No, they didn't add the Bicalutimide.
I'm guessing the PET scan will show where in his body the cancer is? and then decide treatment from there?
User
The scan might spot the cancers cells but the clusters may be so tiny that they can't be seen.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
|
User
Hello everyone
Does anyone have experience with Apalutamide?
My husband was prescribed it last week. So far the side effects are just extreme tiredness.
His PSMA Scan showed no new bone Mets, the cancer is contained in the Prostate.
Thanks
Catherine