Prostate cancer treated with Leuprolide

Posted by donnelson @donnelson, May 25, 2016

I had 43 days of prostate cancer radiation about 5-6 years ago. My PSA becgan to rise in summer of 2014. Suddenly it went from 5 to 20 in 4 months, only to drop a bit the next week. My doctor suggets Leuprolide which is administered every 6 months by a shot. I've read many bad side affects(swelling of feel and legs, visual changes, hot flashes and generally lower testrosterone levels). Have others had this problem? I'm wondering if I should wait a month and have the PSA drawn again?.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 20, 2016

In reply to @flor "I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISHES WITH MY SON I WILL KEEP IN TOUCH..." + (show)

Flor, I assume because you were at Mayo Rochester with your husband, you already now about the Slaggie Family Cancer Education Center. Just in case you don't, look for it on the street level in the Gonda building. It offers a quiet refuge as well as a wealth of information and support.

Here's some information
http://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/education-centers/cancer-education/minnesota/faq

flor | @flor | Jul 20, 2016

In reply to @flor "I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISHES WITH MY SON I WILL KEEP IN TOUCH..." + (show)

THANK YOU SO MUCH COLLEEN GOD BLESS

chazcat | @chazcat | Jul 28, 2016

Do you know if it is the same as Lupron. I'm on lupron

Martin Jensen, Volunteer Mentor | @predictable | Jul 28, 2016

In reply to @chazcat "Do you know if it is the same as Lupron. I'm on lupron" + (show)

Welcome aboard, @chazcat! A lot of us gather here to exchange information and experiences. Can I assume your question was directed to Don Nelson (@donnelson) who started this thread? He mentioned Leuprolide which is the pharmaceutical name for the active ingredient in your medication, Lupron. Here's a link to a web site on the drugs: https://www.drugs.com/lupron.html.

If you'd like to share some personal information about your situation, how long have you been taking Lupron? When was your prostate lesion diagnosed? How was it discovered? What treatment have you received (other than Lupron)? How are you faring now? Is there anything that we can provide to meet your needs?

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 28, 2016

Hi all,
We've archived the video chat with Mayo Clinic's Dr. Castle. You can watch it here on Connect http://mayocl.in/2dD9wIG If you skip ahead to the time 5:15 on the video, you'll hear where I brought your question about PSA monitoring to Dr. Castle.

Q: Can you speak to the importance and/or validity of PSA monitoring when someone has been diagnosed with prostate cancer as opposed to its use for screening?

A: Dr. Castle breaks down the different way PSA is used for monitoring disease spread. Start listening at 5:15 http://mayocl.in/2dD9wIG He concludes with "PSA is, without a doubt, our most important tool that we use currently in patients who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer."

JohnWBurns | @johnwburns | Sep 28, 2016

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi all, We've archived the video chat with Mayo Clinic's Dr. Castle. You can watch it..." + (show)

Thanks, I'll look at it later. While he evidently emphasizes the value of skillful PSA interpretation, I wonder if he mentions the growing importance of relatively new imaging techniques in monitoring disease progression? If he doesn't I'll repost a video about it from Dr Kwon at Mayo Rochester.

Martin Jensen, Volunteer Mentor | @predictable | Sep 29, 2016

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi all, We've archived the video chat with Mayo Clinic's Dr. Castle. You can watch it..." + (show)

I remain interested in the idea that a PSA test has become "our most important tool that we use currently in patients who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer." Did Dr. Castle explain why this use of PSA is reliable when PSA to screen for PS is said to be relatively unreliable?

JohnWBurns | @johnwburns | Sep 29, 2016

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi all, We've archived the video chat with Mayo Clinic's Dr. Castle. You can watch it..." + (show)

Please go back to the ancient posts about the difference of showing PSA pre and post treatment. I hope that you're still not on the partial prostatectomy bandwagon.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 29, 2016

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi all, We've archived the video chat with Mayo Clinic's Dr. Castle. You can watch it..." + (show)

I hope you'll watch the video of Dr. Castle. It is only 15 minutes long. http://mayocl.in/2dD9wIG
He talks about new ways to detect prostate cancer and disease progression (2:00). And he explains how PSA, along with other tests, is used post treatment to monitor disease, according to which treatment a patient had. He does speak to the conflict of the 2 uses of PSA. Have a listen.

JohnWBurns | @johnwburns | Sep 29, 2016

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi all, We've archived the video chat with Mayo Clinic's Dr. Castle. You can watch it..." + (show)

Ok, I watched it and it was pretty thorough and balanced. I did note the cheerleading for proton beam at or near the beginning. In 2007 when I was treated there were only 2 sites that offered it, Loma Linda U and U of Florida Shands. When I bounced it off the doctors I spoke to at a couple of clinics they dismissed proton beam as "no data". Now the major clinics have caught up and build their own big shiny cyclotrons and its suddenly all that and a bag o' chips. Not questioning his, or Mayo's credibility, just reminding that there is a flavor of the day when it comes to cancer treatment.