Abiraterone - anyone had experience?

Missy - while you're waiting, you can use the SEARCH link above and search Abiraterone to find several previous discussions.

Missy,
I have no personal experience with Zytiga, but know of two support group members that had PSA responses of more than 70% in a matter of weeks. Both are happy campers. Wish you and your hubby the very best results too.

RalphV

Hi Missy,

I, too, have been lurking here off and on and am enormously grateful for the information and wisdom I have found here.

My husband began Zytiga about two weeks ago. He had undergone spot radiation for a bone met in his back and was beginning to feel pain in his ribs. He says the pain has disappeared and he now has abundant energy. The only side effect (due, I think, to the Prednsione) is that he wakes a number of times in the night because he is so full of energy. I don't know whether the disappearance of the pain is due to the Zytiga, or the Prednisione. But an oncological nurse I have spoken with says that while the Prednsione alleviates inflammation, it cannot have made the pain disappear totally. So, here's hoping and I am sending that hope for good results to you and your husband.

Carol

My husband has been on zytiga for a little over a month. In 4 weeks his psa went from 449 to 150, but one problem his liver function alkp is quite elevated. The Dr. is going to leave him on for one more month and hopefully his alkp will drop. The rest of his liver function test is fine. I hope my husband can stay on it as that is quite a drop of his psa. He is feeling fine and no real side effects so again it's a waiting game.

Morning all

Just a little update on my Husband's experience with Aberiterone (Zytiga)

After having been on the drug for 15 days, his psa rose from 35 to 47. This is clearly a disappointing result and we are pretty down about it.

Of course, 15 days is not a very long timescale, but still, we hoped that his psa would at least stabilise.

Wondered if anyone else on this drug had a similar bumpy start which then went on to improve.

Doctor says he will only keep him on it for two months if it doesn't show benefit because of the cost

Thank you, Julia

Thank you John. We are in the UK so not sure if we can do a phone consultation, but appreciate the response :)

Hi Missyj, - You will be interested in the following:


Posted Today 12:40 PM (GMT -7)
February 1st, 2012, informational news from the BBC

"NICE: Prostate cancer drug too costly for NHS (abiraterone=Zytiga)

A drug that can extend the life of men with advanced prostate cancer by more than three months has provisionally been rejected for NHS use.
Draft guidance from the health watchdog for England and Wales says the drug's benefits are not enough to justify the price the NHS has been asked to pay.
Cancer charities have been angered by the decision about abiraterone, one of the few drugs available to men in the final stages of prostate cancer.
A final decision is yet to be made.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect men in the UK. The chief executive of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Sir Andrew Dillon, said the drug was effective, and one of its key benefits was that it could be taken orally in the patient's own home.

"We are therefore disappointed not to be able to recommend it for use on the NHS, however it is an expensive drug," Sir Andrew added.
Abiraterone costs just under £3,000 for one month's supply but has been offered at a undisclosed discounted price to the NHS. - - - - "

The entire BBC article can be found here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16838825

John@newPCa.org (aka) az4peaks

Hi, thanks for the above. The trial on the link is for people who haven't had chemo, which rules out my husband :(

I am looking into a drug called Ketoconazole, which has never been mentioned to us by the consultant.

Has anyone had any experience with this drug?

Thanks