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@kette

My story of prostate cancer:
I retired in March of 2018. Was diagnosed with pc sometime in July of 2018 and had surgery to remove my prostate. I was a 4+4.
I had psa tests every 3 months and then in late 2019 my psa started rising. I have had all of my diagnoses/treatments at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. In January of 2020 I started radiation treatments every weekday for 3 months. After this my psa was not detectable. I tested every 6 months and it stayed undetectable until January of 2024. Had mri and pet scan and cancer showed in my prostate region. So more radiation but only for 5 days and in different area than previous treatment. Then was sent to oncologist. I was given my first lupron shot in March of 2020 and also started taking arbiraterone tablets daily. The only side effects I had at this time was hot flashes, bothersome but easy to deal with. 6 months later my psa. Still undetected and had my 2nd Lupron injection on 9/30. A week after this injection I started feeling very fatigued and could not walk more than a 100 yards before my legs became super weak and wobbly. I have started physical therapy for about a month now 3 times a week as I read on this forum it might help. So far it has not and I can barely walk to my car from pt clinic. I feel like only half a man. My family always has to ask before we go somewhere “will you be able to walk that far” ? I always say yes even knowing I will be exhausted the whole time.
I will get my 3rd Lupron injection in March of 2025. I am concerned that my fatigue will even get worse after that. If it does not sure what I will do. (Hopefully not a wheelchair as I do not want to be a real burden on my family)
I see my oncologist in January 2025 to go over a bone density test I had last month. I will discuss my fatigue and weakness with her then and see if there’s
An alternative treatment option.
I am 70 and still beating this cancer but it is a rough road. I have read on hear even after the last Lupron injection it takes a longtime for testosterone levels to get back up which would elliviate the fatigue and weakness with.
Anyone else with a similar treatment course and similar side effects??

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Replies to "My story of prostate cancer: I retired in March of 2018. Was diagnosed with pc sometime..."

The amount of prednisone you take with Zytiga Can be very important. Some people can get along on 5 mg of prednisone other people have extreme fatigue on that amount. Talk to your doctor about raising your prednisone to 10 mg, This is not unusual many people use this amount

I was in a webinar a couple of months ago and a Doctor who has prostate cancer said that the fatigue was just terrible with 5 mg so he went up to 7 1/2 and it helped a lot for him. I’ve been working with someone who has had terrible fatigue issues, and I told him about Increasing his prednisone. He spoke to his doctor and his doctor said start taking 10 mg, That made a major difference in his fatigue problem, He still has a little bit of fatigue, but not nearly what he had before. His doctor never recommended this. Many doctors just don’t know how to resolve the fatigue.

I was On Zytiga For 2 1/2 years. It kept my PSA down, but caused a number of issues with my heart, including high blood pressure and afib events. Keep an eye on your blood pressure. It could go up more than you expect.

I'm 73. I had a similar reaction after my third lupron injection. Walking was difficult, my hips, knees and ankles were really sore.
I ramped up my yoga exercises to almost daily at home and once to twice a week in a studio. Yoga is the best. I also started back in the gym lifting weights. It is helping but you can easily overdo it so the initial startup has to be gradual. I have learned that you have to physically fight the loss of testosterone. Yoga is my main go to remedy.