Re: Advanced Prostrate Cancer...

[Guest guest]

> My father has been detected Prostrate cancer in its advanced stage..The

> Cancer has also spread to bones but the doctor says it has not yet

> hollowed the bones.... The doctors have removed his testicles and put

> him on medicine Calutide 50 mg...

No doubt it's bicalutamide, proprietary name Casodex. It blocks

testosterone (T), which nourishes prostate cancer (PCa) cells, from the

receptors on the cells.

And yes, Dad is probably still producing T via the adrenal cortexes.

It's a small amount, but can be significant.

> but people say that this medicine will only be effective for several years and

the cancer will start

> spreading again...

I recommend that what " people say " be ignored unless it's supported by

medical science.

> can somebody guide for how many years this medicine

> can remain effective in controlling the growth of cancer...my father

> is 66 years old..

No one can say. Everyone is different. Information on Casodex will be

found in this section of rxlist.com:

http://www.rxlist.com/casodex-drug.htm

Is Dad under the care of a true cancer specialist, a medical oncologist?

Preferably one who is well-trained in treatment (tx) of PCa. Some can be

found via this page of the encyclopedic Prostate Cancer Research Institute:

http://prostate-cancer.org/resource/special.html

It appears that his disease is advanced. There is available a free

handbook entitled, " Living with Advanced Prostate Cancer " which is a

publication of the Institute for Continued Healthcare Education. It can

be ordered via the PCRI home page, or via the home page of the prostate

cancer education and support group Us Too International at

http://www.ustoo.com/

Now my essay for the new folks:

Welcome to the club no one wants to join.

I have some suggestions that will help to make well-informed decisions.

Anecdotes contributed by other patients can be interesting, but should

never, ever, be relied upon as authority for one's own decisions. In

other words, what helps me might harm you and vice versa.

There is a lot to do.

(1) If applicable, I recommend having the biopsy specimens examined by

a pathology lab that specializes in prostate cancer (PCa). Everything

that is done from here on depends upon the accuracy of the Gleason

scoring. Here is a list of such labs:

Bostwick Laboratories [800] 214-6628

Dianon Laboratories [800] 328-2666 (select 5 for client services)

Jon Epstein (s Hopkins) [410] 955-5043 or [410] 955-2162

Grignon (Michigan) [313] 745-2520

Jon Oppenheimer (Tennessee) [888] 868-7522

UroCor, Inc. [800] 411-1839

This is a " second opinion " and should be covered by insurance/Medicare.

The cost, last I heard, was about $350. More if further tests, which

might be prudent, are ordered.

The chosen lab can give instructions on shipment arrangements.

In civilized jurisdictions, those specimens are the property of the

patient and not the medic, not the lab. Sometimes it is necessary to

educate them on that point.

(Note to " vkj43 " : I doubt that the above applies in this case)

(2) The authoritative website of the Prostate Cancer Research

Institute (PCRI) at http://prostate-cancer.org/index.html

is an excellent beginning.

Some medics who specialize in treatment (tx) of PCa are listed via

this portal: http://prostate-cancer.org/resource/find-a-physician.html

If a particular medic is not suitable due to distance (but there are men

who travel thousands of miles for treatment) or otherwise, there is no

harm and much possible gain in simply asking for a referral.

There are also men whose primary medic is some distance away, but who

receive their routine treatment (tx) near home.

(3) I heartily recommend this comprehensive text on PCa: _A Primer on

Prostate Cancer_ 2nd ed., subtitled " The Empowered Patient's Guide " by

medical oncologist and PCa specialist B. Strum, MD and PCa warrior

Donna Pogliano. It is available from the PCRI website and the like, as

well as Amazon (30+ five-star reviews), & Noble, and

bookstores. A lifesaver, as I very well know.

(4) Personal contact with other patients can be very helpful. Local

chapters of the international support group Us Too can be found via

their website at http://www.ustoo.com/chapter_nearyou.asp

Regards,

Steve J

" Empowerment: taking responsibility for and authority over one's own

outcomes based on education and knowledge of the consequences and

contingencies involved in one's own decisions. This focus provides the

uplifting energy that can sustain in the face of crisis. "

--Donna Pogliano, co-author of _A Primer on Prostate Cancer_, subtitled

" The Empowered Patient's Guide. "