I started this thread in Feb 2018 partly to re-assure myself about starting Abiraterone, which sounded a serious drug, and which I rather feared. So I'm reporting back, as I have just stopped that after two years - my PSA had started rising steadily from about October 2019, reaching 19 before Christmas.
So my Onco has switched me to Chemo with Docetaxel - first session January 2020 ( nine more to go, at 3 week intervals - I'm not looking forward to that either - the initial side effects have been quite unpleasant).
I'm bound to say that Abiraterone was pretty trouble-free - I tolerated it well, with only the usual side effects of hormone treatment, which I had already experienced on Prostap ( which continues). I felt pretty well on it, but with moderate fatigue, plus loss of fitness and reduced muscle mass, weight/fat increased, despite excercise. I like walking, and found I was often struggling on things I could tackle easily before. Could be age too of course - I'm mid- 70's.
So for anyone moving on to Abiraterone treatment, be reassured - it works well, and can be pretty easy to deal with. Having to take tablets an hour before Breakfast, and the monthly blood tests and check-up before they released the next month's tablets sometimes could be a nuisance, but really not much bother. I appreciate that much more, having started chemo ! Just a shame Abiraterone didn't work longer for me.
Good luck anyway, to anyone starting that treatment.