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What side effects have you experienced from SBRT for prostate cancer?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Jun 6 7:50am | Replies (56)Comment receiving replies
The side effects of ADT vary widely by person; I wouldn't want to frighten people away from it if they need it to save their lives, but I also don't want to minimize the fact that some people do experience severe side effects.
For the majority, ADT results in mild fatigue, loss of body hair, some sexual dysfunction, breast-tissue growth, and an increased risk of weight gain, diabetes, and heat disease. We can mitigate most of those side effects with moderate exercise and eating a healthy balanced diet, as well as some assistance (mechanical or biochemical) for physical intimacy. In my case, the side-effects have lessened since I started on ADT in 2021, probably because my body has had time to adjust (the first few months are the toughest).
But for an unfortunate minority, the side-effects of ADT can be much worse, including severe depression, irregular heartbeat, etc. So if someone does go on ADT, definitely keep an eye out for those kinds of symptoms (and 🤞 they won't experience them).
Replies to "The side effects of ADT vary widely by person; I wouldn't want to frighten people away..."
I have explained the SEs of ADT for myself to others as a very bad case of the flu with the worst headcold ever. Headaches and poor sleep, very weak as well are part of this stuff. 'Just exercise and eat a good diet" HA! some days I can barely crawl from the bed to the toilet. Leaking all the way in this short trip too. I now know what hell must be like.
Lacco
No weight gain and not sporting a pair of "B' cups as of now. Small comfort. No "wood' either. but these are a given with RP. Trevi fountain now in my shorts without the cost of a trip to Rome. A plus I guess.
Lacco
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Also, injections (Lupron or Firmagon) are tough because you get acute side-effects from a big dose every 1–3 months — mine were 2–3 days of flu-like symptoms, and soreness and swelling for weeks around the injection site.
Switching to Orgovyx (microdoses in daily pills) made all of the acute side-effects go away for me, and also seemed to diminish the chronic ones slightly. I strongly recommend it, if you have the option.