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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 6/5/2020 10:13 AM (GMT -5)
I finished my third taxotere treatment and went in to Dana Farber yesterday for my fourth infusion (6/4/2020).
I had scans on June 1 at South Shore Hospital. The radiologist report was available, but the scans never got on line.

My dilemma is that by PSA is trough the roof indicating disease progression and but my alkaline phosphate has shown a reduction, indicated potential stabilization or improvement in the metastasizes.

9/5/19 10/3/19 10/31/19 11/27/19 12/26/19 1/23/20 2/20/20 4/1/20 5/14/20 6/4/20
2.06 2.61 3.10 3.87 5.87 7.80 11.67 31.83 61.17 113.90
ALk Phos
430 277 184 170

So very different trends. Some patients experience a PSA Flare on taxotere, so this is another scenerio.


So yeseterday we decided to put of my infusion on reading of the scans (CAT / Bone Scan) and have my next infusion next wee.

If everything shows stabilization we stick to taxotere. If we show progression we move to a Taxotere / Cabazitaxel mix. Never heard of this combination.

So while I am waiting for my scans to be read, my anxiety is through the roof.

I guess I am looking for a little insight at this point of what my options are and what others experience may have been.

Mike (aka kmclark1)

"While I take inspiration from the past, like most Americans, I live for the future." - Ronald Regan
Posted 6/5/2020 12:10 PM (GMT -5)
I'm sure someone will be along who can offer advice, based on experience, for you Mike. Hang in there buddy.
Posted 6/5/2020 1:31 PM (GMT -5)
Have you used Provenge, I can’t remember your prior treatments.
Posted 6/5/2020 1:52 PM (GMT -5)
Mike I'm no expert, but isn't Alkaline Phosphatase levels indicative of other possible issues, besides cancer? some serious some not so much?
Posted 6/5/2020 2:02 PM (GMT -5)
Has stayed constant until mets progressed. My MO opinion is that it is driven by an increase in Mets.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc4129955/
Posted 6/5/2020 2:57 PM (GMT -5)

Hello KMClark1,

I'm thankful you are at Dana Farber --- excellence & expertise reign there.

Did your scans get processed and released to your doctor?

One thought I had, having also gone through a series of TAXOTERE chemotherapy infusions ---- is it possible that the chemotherapy is attacking the cancer cells with a vengeance, and therefore "dumping" them into your bloodstream, triggering a rise in PSA?

Thinking things through --- it sounds like upcoming scans will help define a treatment trail for you to follow. You are staying right on top of things, I can definitely tell!

At times, we have to remain emboldened and be advocates for our treatment plan. You're doing that, I can tell!

When I visit Dr. Kwon at Mayo Clinic, he emphasizes the importance of scans, for complex cases.

When I am with him, he goes through my scans there, and even does conference calls with my local oncologist.

Dr. Kwon's mantra is this, when making treatment decisions, as he states: "Imaging, imaging, IMAGING!"

This, KMClark1, is exactly what you and your doctors are doing at Dana Farber -- using imaging to map out treatment decisions.

You spoke of a possible chemotherapy mixture. Dr. Kwon talks to me about individually formulated "chemotherapy COCKTAIL" mixtures that he uses.

So, the chemotherapy mixture you mentioned is a concept Dr. Kwon has covered with me in our consultations at Mayo Clinic.

I call it the science of "MIXOLOGY" --- a chemotherapy "cocktail" --- tailored to the needs of the individual. Cutting edge ---- chemotherapy "mixology" ---wave of the future, already put into practice currently, as we speak.

Dr. Kwon has formulated chemotherapy blends for a couple of friends of mine, through Mayo Clinic. Mixology ... chemotherapy cocktails, individually blended and formulated.

Did you know TAXOTERE was originally formulated from cytotoxic components found in the bark of California yew trees? It was first approved for prostate cancer chemotherapy in 2004, following successful clinical trials.

Above all else --- don't hesitate to ask your doctors to forward your scans to another expert for their assessment --- another "set of eyes" ---- such as at M.D. Anderson in Texas or Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, for example ---- doctors often have connections to other doctors that they consult with ... don't hesitate to advocate for your situation.

Continue to rely on your medical team at Dana Farber --- a long history of expertise abounds there.

I'm thinking of you, sending my support, and I will watch for your next posts and updates, KMClark1. We're in this together.

We're all standing alongside you,
Cyclone --- # Iowa State University
Posted 6/5/2020 5:22 PM (GMT -5)
Mike,
I don't have any experiential advice for you, but I follow your posts closely. It's understandable that the anxiety is jacked up, but I've always sensed from your posts that you're also a pretty resilient guy.

Hang in there as best you can. I'm hoping for the best for you, and for some good PCa control from your treatments.
Posted 6/5/2020 5:49 PM (GMT -5)
I hate to write this, but if the specialist MDs need the results from the scans to lay out further treatment, I really can't contribute any medical advice.
I am not sure if this will help, but as others have said, you are being treated at one the best cancer centers in the world.
Wishing you the best outcome!
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