After being diagnosed with advanced stage IV metastatic prostate cancer in January of this year, I went to the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University in Atlanta for a second opinion after first seeing an awful oncologist near my home in Western North Carolina. I decided to go to Emory for my treatment after meeting an excellent oncologist there. He was instrumental in the CHAARTED study which showed added survivorship by starting chemo with Taxotere early together with hormones (Firmagon, then changed to Lupron after about 2 chemo cycles). I was given Taxotere once every three weeks for six cycles. I continue to receive an injection of Lupron once every three months.

My results have been outstanding! First, the side effects during chemo were few and well managed by my team of doctors. They gave me steriods (Prednisone) throughout to mitigate side effects, and they prescribed Compazine to prevent nausea. My wife (an RN) read about studies done in Canada, the UK, France and Australia showing excellent results by icing the fingers and feet to prevent neuropathy and changes in the fingernails and toenails. I did have some "chemo fog" that affected clear thinking at times, but mostly I had the infamous "chemo fatigue." I had no energy. It was often hard to get up out of my recliner and walk to my bed to take a nap. Each cycle typically started with more side effects that became less in the second and third week. By week three each time, I felt pretty good.

I was also given Effexor to fight depression, and Xanax for anxiety, which proved to be a great aid in sleeping. (I only took one Xanax per day, right before bedtime). I have had occasional hot flashes and night sweats from the Lupron. I did lose large clumps of head hair (I got a low buzz cut to manage it), and I've lost about 75% of my body hair.

My blood markers at the lab each time were great. My PSA fell from 259, to 20, to 8, to 5, to 2, and finally down to 0.5 at the end of all chemo treatments. My testosterone fell from 500 to under 20 (which my doctors said was the level of a prepubescent boy. (Hormone treatment is essentially medical castration).

My follow up CT scan showed nothing in my lymph system, nothing in any other organs, and reduction of the size of the tumor in my prostate. The bone scan showed reductions of lesions from 8 to 3 (two on my pelvis and one rib), and no progression at any location. Five locations showed healing of the bone.

Now, I go back for quarterly Lupron injections and annual scans (CT and bone).

My advice to anyone is find the nearest NCI cancer center, go and find a top oncologist, get the standard of care (chemo with hormones) and never look back. Believe me, the initial fear of the diagnosis was far worse than the treatment. Now, I can live in the present and enjoy the remainder of my life. AND FORGET STATISTICS OF SURVIVORSHIP. No one knows how long you will live. LIVE IN THE NOW!

Great treatment response and great attitude. Very inspiring. Continued success to you.

Onthegodiy,

Who do you see at Winship? My husband is also being treated there.

Donna

Thank you Onthgodly for your inspiring story. You can thank your remarkable medical team for remembering to include incidentals like ice packs and Effexor to ease you thru some of the rough side effects... many would not provide those, or even think to mention it.

You are a true champion. Best of luck to you going forward!

To RandyJoe & Donna,

My oncologist at Emory is Dr. Bradley Carthon.
He is absolutely awesome.
None of us know how he does it, but he does through dedication to his calling as an oncologist.
His mother & father both died of cancer as did many of their friends.
It became the inspiration for his career.
Educated at Howard, MD form Harvard Medical, fellowship at M.D. Anderson, then PhD from Harvard.
He sees patients two days a week, he teaches 2 days a week, conducts clinical trials and gives talks all over the country.
Soft spoken, he teaches with authority and answers all questions.
His whole team is excellent and caring as well.
(Sometimes you see one of his associates).
He holds weekly tumor meetings to review each patient's case progress and status.
Again, the man is awesome.

Onthgodiy,

We also see Dr. Carthon. We've also been impressed with him.

Donna

Hello Onthgodiy ~

That's remarkable, encouraging, and hopeful news! I'm very, very thankful for your update.

It sounds like those TAXOTERE chemotherapy sessions packed a mighty punch already!

As shown below my signature, we have many common threads in our treatment story.

I wanted to congratulate you on the success of your recent treatments.

I remember during my TAXOTERE treatments, my doctor said I was having a "tremendous response" to the chemotherapy infusions ---

So let me now say that you have, indeed had a TREMENDOUS RESPONSE to your treatments, Onthgodiy!

Stay strong --- stay determined --- stay proactive !

Handshake from across the miles, from "one brother to another brother" ~

CYCLONE ~ Iowa State University