Provenge Treatment for Prostate Cancer
84
When my husband was first diagnosed in 2008 at age 57 with Stage 2 Prostate Cancer we were heartbroken yet hopeful. Dave does have a strong family history of Prostate Cancer which is why he began PSA screenings at age 40. We were given a few options by his urologist and Dave decided upon robotic surgery. Surgery was successful by serving it's purpose. PSA began to slowly rise shortly after even though post-biopsy results were perfect as stated by his surgeon/urologist.
Dave continued on to receive 38 radiation treatments to his prostate bed as suggested by his radiation oncologist. We later learned these treatments served no purpose since the cancer had obviously already spread. A bone scan revealed metastatic cancer to his hip area. 15 radiation treatments followed. PSA continued to rise.
At this time Eligard - Hormone Treatment along with Casodex was added to the regime. PSA dropped, we cheered. Six months later PSA began to rise again. A bone scan revealed metastatic cancer to the spine. Ten radiation treatments followed. PSA dramatically jumped on the richter scale! Monthly Xgeva injections for bone strength were now added.
Almost four years into our journey...Dave was now asymptomatic, castrate resistant and had metastatic cancer. He was now a perfect candidate for Provenge Therapy. As a team my husband and I did our research and were again very hopeful that this treatment will prove beneficial to destroy the cancerous cells. We could have went with chemotherapy but when presented with the option of toxic vs non-toxic we choose immunotherapy and we are rooting for Dave's immune system to win this fight! Provenge is less invasive then chemo. It's the only treatment available besides chemo that will destroy cancer cells. Provenge was just recently approved by the FDA, but that didn't affect our decision. This therapy has been in clinical studies for many years. We are confident Provenge will get the job done. We hope that after three leukaphoresis treatments alternated with three Provenge infusions it's effects will add more years to Dave's life. Would we recommend this treatment to another patient of Prostate Cancer? Absolutely!!
Update 11/14/11: Part one and Part two went smoothly with the exception of a pit stop for a blood transfusion due to low hemoglobin levels. One more treatment to go! Final treatment was on 11/30/11. We won't know how successful Provenge therapy was for a few weeks, we're hoping for the best! Last PSA check was 556 in October. Initial PSA 4 years ago pre-surgery was 5.8.
12/16/11: First Provenge PSA is 323 ... Oncologist informed us the PSA was double after Provenge. This is one of those times when you are happy your doctor was wrong!:)
12/19/11 Low hemoglobin results @7.6 require an immediate blood transfusion on 12/20/11. One day at a time.
I am now updating Dave's journey on http://sunshine625.hubpages.com/hub/Prostate-Cancer-Doctors-Are-Still-Clueless
Another perspective regarding Provenge.
- Insight: New doubts about prostate-cancer vaccine Provenge| Reuters
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Prostate cancer vaccine Provenge has long incited passions unlike any other cancer therapy.Doctors who raised doubts about it received death threats. Health regulators and lawmakers
Additional articles of interest....
- Are Prostate Cancer Doctors Still Clueless?
This article is updated daily, weekly or monthly depending on where we are with treatments. Prostate Cancer is still a mystery to doctors. It seems like many doctors are still clueless. More research... - 13 months ago
- My Letter to Cancer
In one way or another most of us are, were or will be affected by cancer. This is my letter to cancer. It was very therapeutic for me to write. I hope it also serves as a form of therapy to you as... - 4 months ago
- Provenge Treatment for Prostate Cancer
Provenge Therapy is the latest treatment for Prostate Cancer. This is my husbands journey with Provenge. - 6 months ago
- Cancer Etiquette
Chances are we will all be affected by cancer at sometime in our lives. This article shares the do's and don'ts from my perspective. - 13 months ago
- Prostate Cancer and the Importance of the PSA Test
Dear U.S. Preventive Services Task Force...we would appreciate it more if you focused on the positive...if it ain't broke don't fix it! - 7 months ago
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (6)
- Funny
- Awesome (1)
- Beautiful (2)
- Interesting (3)
Please share your experiences or concerns below. Your words might help someone else. Thank you. Loading...
Best wishes from another prostate cancer patient. I was diagnosed at 54, and underwent aggressive seed implants.
Thank you Naomi and Will for your well wishes! We appreciate the support.
You know my thoughts and prayers are always with you and Dave. You are a perfect example of what it means to "fight the good fight," and continue to go forward with hope and strength. This new treatment sounds promising and I trust this will be a success. Bless you and your entire, loving family!
A great hub with a positive attitude that will only help in this terrible fight. Thanks for writing a hub that takes us behind the scenes and thanks to Dave for allowing his story to be told here at HubPages....I like the t-shirts he picked for the treatment... Hopefully when Provenge helps Dave get rid of the cancer cells...Provenge will become the leading treatment and maybe chemo will become something of that is not used as much....the chemo was the worst thing my mom went through when she was going through her fight....wishing for some great news from Provenge and Dave....awesome hub.
A fight for love and life and the lesson of a new day breaks miracle and my blessing for many more.;)
You'll want to get his immune system built up, up, up! When my late husband had chemo his white blood cell count dropped so low that the treatments were discontinued. This is where our trouble began because the chemo was working. I've heard that yogurt builds up the immune system. Blessings to you and your husband.
My thoughts and prayers are with you guys sunshine, I can tell he's a fighter and that's a good thing. Very informative hub great job:) ge
Thank you for your comments, wishes and thoughts! They are appreciated as is your support :)
Paula
Bruce
Bryan
Susie
Gloria
You have valuable information here. I learn many things from you. I believe that you are a good wife who accompany your husband in happy and sorrow. I hope he'll get the best treatment. Never give up and always give him full of support. Send my warm greeting for him. God bless you!
Prasetio
Linda,
You know I am cheering for you and Dave and wish you the best success with this new treatment. Thanks for sharing your story.
Sharyn
Hi prasetio ... thank you for your well wishes.
Hi Sharon ... Yes my friend I feel your support, I know you got our back and we thank you:)
I read with great interest your HUB, because I got advanced Postata Cancer myself. Years ago, I went down due a spinal compression due to a tumor. Diagnosis was Prostata Cancer with advanced bone metastasis. The classical medical therapie followd (Zoladex, Zometa, Painkillers aso) The PSA went down from 700 (!) to about 0,08 and stayed there until today. Accidentially, a tumor on the sacred bone was discoverd some months ago, 10 doses of radiation treatment were applied.
Doctors and me were very intrigued: How could a tumor grow while PSA was still on a record low level? Onco Doctor wanted to apply Chem, I refused. I did not want to exchange a pretty good quality of live with the side effects and suffernings of a Chemo!
Thus, I injoy life as best as I can, countinuing with the classic therapy. The backside is: The bones affected by metastasis give me pain. From the beginning, Docs prescribed me Oxycodone, a very effective analgesic, supported when needed by a Diclofenac Prep.
Perhaps I should write a Hub? I am a bit reluctant because of the medical aspects: Giving advice might be problematic. What do you think?
I wish your husband all the best, keep going on strong :-))
Hi Auk! I absolutely think you should right a hub! Sharing your journey and offering your opinions would be greatly appreciated by many! Wishing you well..,thank you for your kind words.
An answer to the question "How could a tumor grow while PSA was still on a record low level?"
Cancer is caused by free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Conventional doctors ignore or are antagonistic to the concept of free radicals causing disease. Selenium is concentrated in the prostate gland just as coenzyme Q10 is concentrated in the heart, to help the heart produce energy for its non-stop work. So selenium must be in the prostate gland to protect the "seed" of life and perpetuate the species. I have a Hub on how selenium protects the prostate gland. Immunotherapy targets only malignant cells. Chemotherapy destroys both cancerous and healthy cells (Huffman, H. The Melanoma Book).
Naomi's Banner Level 3 Commenter 6 months ago
Very informative and well covered Hub. Tell your husband thanks for allowing the readers to share in his fight of this cancer. I believe he will beat this cancer. Please keep us posted on his progress and thanks for sharing your story.