RE: Re: A question about ADT protocol - need opinions->

[Guest guest]

Margaret Yes there are studies out on the web about this type of treatment. Some feelings in the med community try on again off again ADT as a way of extending the quality and length of life. These studies have shown that to a limited degree this procedure has limited success. Just remember that ADT is not a cure but a process to hold off or slow the progress of the cancer. It only lasts 18-24 months on the average before the cancer becomes hormone refractive. Doc's usually use HT because at this time, as there is nothing else for those of us that are metastasized. To be sure there are chemo drugs Taxofer <sp> and vaccines Provenge <sp> but the data suggests only a minimal life extension. 2 Mo's at best. I have to tell you some other thoughts. Life with cancer is tough on everyone. The patient and his family. Any Doc worth his salt would not give a patient with advanced PCa with

bone mets a bunch of false hope. He would explain the situation to the patient and let them make the calls. I suspect that your father knows this and that's why he prefers to go to the doc alone. Im the same way but my family wont let me. It dosent change the outcome of my situation so i tolorate their presence. You get so tired with this disease and hurt both phyical and mental each day. It never leaves your mind or body 24 hours a day. Im telling you my experience and feelings with the hand that i drew in the poker game of cancer. Maybe you will understand where your dad may be. Love him, i know you do. Accept his decissions, enjoy the time you have and when he makes up his mind that he has had enough of the cancer, he will let you know its time to let go. The actions of the family will play allot on his decission. By this i mean he will look at how well you are enjoying his company and your time togather. If its good then he will fight alittle harder, if its

bickering about treatments and such all the time or bad he will give up to the cancer sooner. Advanced PCa with bone mets. There are just not a whole lot of options. HT is the best. Surgery, Cryo, Chemo, Rad implants are pretty much out of the question. Rad treatments to the bone mets help ease pain and ADT will slow it down. There are always clinical trails if you qualify, but read the fine print. EG. Provenge at the very bottom in small print says it had shown to extend life by upto 2 months. This is how I see my situation and allot of others that i read here. The view points are mine alone and do not reflect the views of the majority of this group. theherbalnook wrote: Hi , This is helpful to know. I will print your post and

show my Dad. I wish there was some info somewhere about ADT protocols (when to switch meds, when to stop meds for a short time, when to couple meds). It seems so revolting to think that a doctor would stop the Lupron only because of the cost issue. My Dad gets his at the doctor's office - with this doc's history in taking poor care of my Dad, it makes me wonder.... My Dad's PSA at diagnosis was 20. After 7 months of Lupron, it is 1. Does anyone know of any medical reason that would be an advantage to my Dad to stop the Lupron or change to another ADT this soon after such positive results?Thanks,Margaret Have a nice Day!

Yahoo! Mail

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

[Guest guest]

-----Original Message-----From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of sam mcdanielSent: Monday, March 20, 2006 1:03 AMTo: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: Re: Re: A question about ADT protocol - need opinions->

snip

To be sure there are chemo drugs Taxofer <sp> and vaccines Provenge <sp> but the data suggests only a minimal life extension. 2 Mo's at best.

This is not accurate. Some of the individuals in the study survived a very long time. The study was done on men with end stage disease. This study was done for FDA approval and additional studies are being done now to show a more realistic survival time. Do not say "at best".

Kathy

[Guest guest]

This is the latest i could find on provenge unless i over looked something. I stand corrected its 4 months Dendreon Announces Plans to Submit Application for FDA Approval Update September 14, 2005 Dendreon Corporation announced plans to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market Provenge®, the Company's investigational immunotherapy for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. This decision follows a pre-BLA meeting in which the Company reviewed safety and efficacy data with the

FDA from its two completed Phase 3 clinical trials of Provenge in patients with advanced prostate cancer. The outcome of these discussions determined that the survival benefit observed in the D9901 study in conjunction with the supportive data obtained from study D9902A and the absence of significant toxicity in both studies is sufficient to serve as the clinical basis of a BLA submission for Provenge. As reported earlier this year, the final three-year follow up of the D9901 Phase 3 study of Provenge in 127 men with asymptomatic, metastatic, androgen-independent prostate cancer showed a median survival benefit of 21 percent or 4.5 months and a three-fold improvement in survival at 36 months for patients who were randomized to receive Provenge compared to placebo. SnipKathy Meade wrote: -----Original Message-----From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of sam mcdanielSent: Monday, March 20, 2006 1:03 AMTo: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: Re: Re: A question about ADT protocol - need opinions-> snip To be sure there are chemo drugs Taxofer <sp> and vaccines Provenge <sp> but the data suggests only a minimal life extension. 2 Mo's at best. This is not accurate. Some of the individuals in the study survived a very long time. The study was done on men with end stage

disease. This study was done for FDA approval and additional studies are being done now to show a more realistic survival time. Do not say "at best". Kathy Have a nice Day!

Yahoo! Mail

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.