Because it's not in the Ontario Drug Formulary yet, the manufacturer is running a patient-access programme here in Ontario, which covers the full cost if your oncologist enrolls you (mine had a bunch of enrollment cards, and just handed me one). Once Orgovyx is in the formulary, both the government programmes and private insurance will pay for it.
It costs almost exactly the same as Firmagon here (about US $220/month), so there's no reason for the government and insurers not to cover it.
Because it's not in the Ontario Drug Formulary yet, the manufacturer is running a patient-access programme here in Ontario, which covers the full cost if your oncologist enrolls you (mine had a bunch of enrollment cards, and just handed me one). Once Orgovyx is in the formulary, both the government programmes and private insurance will pay for it.
It costs almost exactly the same as Firmagon here (about US $220/month), so there's no reason for the government and insurers not to cover it.
Lifelong hormone therapy doesn't always require continuous use.
Understanding Intermittent Hormone Therapy, Dr. Mark Scholz, Prostate Cancer Research Institute...
Lifelong hormone therapy doesn't always require continuous use.
Understanding Intermittent Hormone Therapy, Dr. Mark Scholz, Prostate Cancer Research Institute...
I think intermittent treatment probably depends on one’s prostate cancer diagnosis. My diagnosis was that my cancer also had metastasized into my bones
I think intermittent treatment probably depends on one’s prostate cancer diagnosis. My diagnosis was that my cancer also had metastasized into my bones
Also, I’m not sure if psychologically/emotionally going off adt meds for awhile and then prostate level begins rising again causing going back again on adt meds psychologically/emotionally may not be a good idea
I think intermittent treatment probably depends on one’s prostate cancer diagnosis. My diagnosis was that my cancer also had metastasized into my bones
Yes, ditto. The research didn't show great results for intermittent ADT with advanced-stage prostate cancer, but it showed it was safe for treating earlier-stage.
The presumed benefit of ADT holidays for earlier-stage cancer is that it reduces the risk of side-effects like bone-density loss, heart problems, etc.
Intermittent hormone therapy might not be good for some folks. But it might be in my future, so I like having this option in my toolbox.
At age 71, I decided on HDR Brachytherapy + 5xSBRT, for my Gleason 9 Stage 2 cancer (confined to prostate, no metastasis per PSMA Pet scan). I was on Orgovyx (ADT) last year as recommended by Dr. Chang at UCLA.
My PSA & testosterone both dropped to undetectable (less than 0.01 & 6).
Coronary artery disease (one stent so far) also argues against long-term ADT for me.
That said, given my high-risk Gleason 9, sooner or later I expect my PC will recur. Then I'll resume ADT depending on the usual variables -- age, cardiac issues, test results, quality of life, you-name-it.
Hopefully that's far down the road. For now, I exercise daily & mostly eat right & get regular testing & take my meds & etc etc etc.
Yes, ditto. The research didn't show great results for intermittent ADT with advanced-stage prostate cancer, but it showed it was safe for treating earlier-stage.
The presumed benefit of ADT holidays for earlier-stage cancer is that it reduces the risk of side-effects like bone-density loss, heart problems, etc.
"The presenting T stage was borderline significant, while PSA at presentation, Gleason Score and age were not... the use of ADT for 12 months and time-to-nadir PSA remained significant." https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9743609/
(In the interest of a quicker read, I omitted some details from the excerpt below.)
Abstract
A nadir Prostate-Specific Antigen (nPSA) of 0.06 ng/mL has been shown to be a strong independent predictor of biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS) in patients with intermediate or high-risk (HR) prostate cancer treated with definitive external beam radiation therapy (RT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). We aimed to examine the association between the duration of ADT and bRFS in HR localized prostate cancer, based on nPSA.
Methods
Between 1998 and 2015, 204 patients with HR localized prostate cancer were identified. Of them, 157 patients (77.0%) reached the desired nPSA of < 0.06 ng/mL (favorable group), while 47 (23.0%) did not (unfavorable group). Duration of ADT varied among patients depending on physician preference, patient tolerance, and/or compliance.
Results
In the favorable group, ADT for at least 12 months lead to superior bRFS compared to ≤ 9 months of ADT (P = 0.036). However, no significant difference was seen when examining the value of receiving ADT beyond 12, 18, or 24 months, respectively... analysis for bRFS, the use of ADT for at least 12 months was significant as well as time to nadir PSA (tnPSA), (≤ 6 vs > 6 months). The presenting T stage was borderline significant, while PSA at presentation, Gleason Score and age were not... the use of ADT for 12 months and tnPSA remained significant. In the unfavorable group, receiving ADT beyond 9 and 12 months was associated with improved bRFS. However, beyond 18 months, there was no significant difference.
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I ordered Darolutamide last night and they charged me $2,000 but everything is free for the rest of the year.
Yeah, me too. I was glad to get the grant and that it went towards the max.
Because it's not in the Ontario Drug Formulary yet, the manufacturer is running a patient-access programme here in Ontario, which covers the full cost if your oncologist enrolls you (mine had a bunch of enrollment cards, and just handed me one). Once Orgovyx is in the formulary, both the government programmes and private insurance will pay for it.
It costs almost exactly the same as Firmagon here (about US $220/month), so there's no reason for the government and insurers not to cover it.
That won’t be too bad. With my insurance is $1055 a month. Way too high I feel.
Lifelong hormone therapy doesn't always require continuous use.
Understanding Intermittent Hormone Therapy, Dr. Mark Scholz, Prostate Cancer Research Institute...
I think intermittent treatment probably depends on one’s prostate cancer diagnosis. My diagnosis was that my cancer also had metastasized into my bones
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1 ReactionAlso, I’m not sure if psychologically/emotionally going off adt meds for awhile and then prostate level begins rising again causing going back again on adt meds psychologically/emotionally may not be a good idea
Yes, ditto. The research didn't show great results for intermittent ADT with advanced-stage prostate cancer, but it showed it was safe for treating earlier-stage.
The presumed benefit of ADT holidays for earlier-stage cancer is that it reduces the risk of side-effects like bone-density loss, heart problems, etc.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reactionmikejf, agreed.
Intermittent hormone therapy might not be good for some folks. But it might be in my future, so I like having this option in my toolbox.
At age 71, I decided on HDR Brachytherapy + 5xSBRT, for my Gleason 9 Stage 2 cancer (confined to prostate, no metastasis per PSMA Pet scan). I was on Orgovyx (ADT) last year as recommended by Dr. Chang at UCLA.
My PSA & testosterone both dropped to undetectable (less than 0.01 & 6).
Coronary artery disease (one stent so far) also argues against long-term ADT for me.
That said, given my high-risk Gleason 9, sooner or later I expect my PC will recur. Then I'll resume ADT depending on the usual variables -- age, cardiac issues, test results, quality of life, you-name-it.
Hopefully that's far down the road. For now, I exercise daily & mostly eat right & get regular testing & take my meds & etc etc etc.
Best wishes.
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Hug
3 Reactions"The presenting T stage was borderline significant, while PSA at presentation, Gleason Score and age were not... the use of ADT for 12 months and time-to-nadir PSA remained significant."
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9743609/
(In the interest of a quicker read, I omitted some details from the excerpt below.)
Abstract
A nadir Prostate-Specific Antigen (nPSA) of 0.06 ng/mL has been shown to be a strong independent predictor of biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS) in patients with intermediate or high-risk (HR) prostate cancer treated with definitive external beam radiation therapy (RT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). We aimed to examine the association between the duration of ADT and bRFS in HR localized prostate cancer, based on nPSA.
Methods
Between 1998 and 2015, 204 patients with HR localized prostate cancer were identified. Of them, 157 patients (77.0%) reached the desired nPSA of < 0.06 ng/mL (favorable group), while 47 (23.0%) did not (unfavorable group). Duration of ADT varied among patients depending on physician preference, patient tolerance, and/or compliance.
Results
In the favorable group, ADT for at least 12 months lead to superior bRFS compared to ≤ 9 months of ADT (P = 0.036). However, no significant difference was seen when examining the value of receiving ADT beyond 12, 18, or 24 months, respectively... analysis for bRFS, the use of ADT for at least 12 months was significant as well as time to nadir PSA (tnPSA), (≤ 6 vs > 6 months). The presenting T stage was borderline significant, while PSA at presentation, Gleason Score and age were not... the use of ADT for 12 months and tnPSA remained significant. In the unfavorable group, receiving ADT beyond 9 and 12 months was associated with improved bRFS. However, beyond 18 months, there was no significant difference.
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Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions