Help for ?

[Guest guest]

Caceres has mailed me about his father Washington, asking

questions that I cannot answer adequately. If any of you would like to help him

by responding to him directly, his e-mail address is caceres1@... If you respond here,

I will forward your mails to him. The details of his Washington’s diagnosis and current

position are:

He is 72 years old and was diagnosed back in January

2009 with advanced prostate cancer with a PSA of 125ng/mg, Gleason Score not known

with metastases to the bone (pelvic and spine).. His initial therapy was ADT

(Androgen Deprivation Therapy)- specifics not stated, but probably immaterial. During

the period of hormonal treatment around October 2010 the metastases spread to

the Dura Mater, the outermost of the three meninges that surround the brain and

spinal cord. He was treated with radiation for that.

The last treatment he received was Taxotere. He

received five infusions this year (started in July) where he suffered some

of the side effects that you would expect but coped pretty well under the circumstances.

For the first four infusions PSA slowly dropped from 300ng/ml to 201 ng/ml

but after the 5th infusion back in October 2011 PSA went up to

310ng/ml.The oncologist said that Taxotere was no longer effective and she

offered my dad a trial with Abiraterone Acetate (Zytiga).The onco wants to

start him on the new drug (Zytiga) on January 11, 12.

Back in Feb 2011 my father contracted shingles. He

had spots around his neck and jaw area .After this episode he started

complaining of pain around his mouth. I mentioned this to the doctors and was

told that it might be Paget's Disease and that Zometa infusions would treat

this disease. During the Taxotere infusions he was also given 3 Zometa

infusions. The pain around his mouth still persists and he also says that he

feels pain inside his mouth, specifically in the gums. We suspect that Osteonecrosis

of the Jaw (ONJ). might be present due to Bisphosphonate like Zometa.

goes on to say:

I'm confused and a bit lost as to what to do next. I've

got the following doubts and questions : -

1.

My dad has to go for Zometa infusion on the January 4, 2012. If this

is what's causing ONJ( gum pain),should he keep having Zometa? Is there

some thing else instead ?

2.

If it is ONJ, what treatment, antibiotics are available for it?

3.

At present for bone pain caused by metastases in the spine and skull

area he's taking Endone (oxycodone hydrochloride) and Panadol together and

only helps for a while. I think these are constipating him. He hasn't had a

number 2 for three days. Can you suggest something else? A laxative for

constipation? Something to help him to at least have a good sleep at night?

4.Since

a week before Christmas vomiting has been a problem. Everything (food) he

swallows he vomits. Based on your experience, how can I help him with the

vomiting?

All the best

Prostate men need enlightening, not frightening

Terry Herbert - diagnosed in 1996 and still going

strong

Read A Strange Place for unbiased information at http://www.yananow.org/StrangePlace/index.html