21 December, 2022

I had a major checkup on my prostate cancer in early September 2022, and it looks like the Hormone treatment I have on has become much less effective.

The treatment options are now few, and I am in the final stages of stage 4 prostate cancer.

I was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer (Gleason count 4+3) in April 2011, and immediately had a prostatectomy, but cancer had already spread.

I was put on a course of radiation treatment in late 2011 (38 bouts every weekday for 8 weeks) and in December 2016, the cancer spread to the bones, and we were then in stage 4 - terminal cancer - no cure - but treatments to prolong life.

I have been on Lupron injections, Xtandi medication, and Xjeva injections since then as part of the Hormone treatment.

I recently met with Professor Young Whang at the University Of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, and he reviewed my case from the very beginning and reviewed it with his colleagues too.

The recommendation is that I go onto radiopharmaceutical therapy - which is a fairly new form of treatment introduced about 9 years ago.

My particular treatment is Xofigo, a radioisotope of radium 223 dichloride, and I get it via an infusion into the veins: I started this treatment on November 23rd - and I will have 6 infusions: one infusion every 4 weeks.

My major side effects of these treatments has been major fatigue, tiredness and general weakness.

As I have said before - It is as it is and we have to deal with it.

Neil has continued with the blog and I will contribute - when I can.

Ed Harrison