Abiraterone alone for HT ADT therapy for PC

Yes, it is exactly the same as far as your body is concerned. Zytiga eliminates cortisol production and prednisone restores it.

Do you have to take prednisone for a long time after completing Abiraterone?

Thank you,
Phil

You will have to taper it for at least two or three months. If you stop too quickly you can have significant fatigue.

Yes on the prednisone. Still so much confusion about ADT,Lupron, etc. etc and all the other drugs that are thrown at PC. Wondering if there is a secret handshake among Oncologists? One that we patients no nothing about.
Lacco

I should have asked more specifically. I’ve seen some descriptions of Abiraterone being an irreversible inhibitor of CYP17 and wasn’t sure if that meant long term (lifetime) use of prednisone or something else would be required. Or can just live with it somehow.

Thank you,
Phil

Here is what I have learned from it all. 2 years ago at the age of 86 they found a large tumor in my prostate but they sort of put me on a wait and hold and within a month it got out into lymph nodes including one in my chest. To those who are just learning do not ever let them do a wait and see if it is still contained in your prostate, get on it right away and go right to radiation if possible. Sometimes the tumor is located in an area where they cannot radiate it without causing bladder or bowel problems. They put me on Lupron and Zytiga and Prednisone with all the hell that goes with it. In 8 months my PSA was .02 and I quit everything. It takes a long time for the Lupron to get out of your system so the side affects continue for a while but within 4-5 months I could feel my testosterone increasing and started feeling like a man again. I never really got my muscles and weight back that I had lost. In March 2025 they did a Pet Scan and a new tumor had formed in the bottom of my prostate but it was still contained I opted for radiation but they could not do it because of the location up against my rectum. Its been ten weeks did another Pet Scan still contained and have gone on a Relugolix one pill a day regiment to reduce my testosterone once again. After 6 days only a couple of minor side affects. They should outlaw Lupron. Here is my take on the whole thing: you cannot kill cancer cells you just reduce the food it needs to survive, the testosterone. Even though your PSA may drop to less them zero the cancer is probably still hiding some where and is so small it cannot be detected and can come back at any time. We all know that all of these cancer drugs probably are way over priced and it is a huge money making machine for big pharma and they take advantage of the fact we would like to stay alive as long as we can. I know that zytiga and Lupron helped to give me diabetes and neuropathy and even affected my pancreas so that it does not work like it should. But I am still alive and I am glad so I can be with my wife as long as I can. Its a tough road. I know the American diet (processed foods and tons of sugar) does not help the body to stay healthy. Again its all about money and not helping people.

It does not irreversibly inhibit CYP17. Some people can have Cortisol come back a little slower than others, but it is not a long-term issue.

I had 38 rounds of radiation and that treatment hammered my bowels and my bladder. They had to put me on drugs so I could pee and they put me on drugs so I could have bowel movements. It was bad. It was painful as hell to have a bowel movement. I would be screaming in pain while on the toilet, it was bad. They put me on Lupron, Zytiga and Prednisone, I had no side effects from the Zytiga and prednisone but the I hated Lupron that stuff I had three injections six months apart and after the third injection, I said no more. I continue to take the Zytiga for two years and then I stopped my hematologist oncologist agreed. My PSA is still non detect. I’m really surprised they told you to hold and wait. That’s just complete BS. And they did the biopsy on me. There were 7/12 hot areas my Gleason score of 9 to 10 Group 5. They got me rolling right away on my treatment and that was after PET scans, bone scans, nuclear injections, the works. I started radiation within weeks. Radiation was very unpleasant. Your bladder has to have a certain volume to proceed with the treatment, every time I almost pissed during treatment. I hope you are doing well. Toby Keith wrote a song based on what Clint Eastwood said to him. Toby Keith asked him how do you stay so active and energetic and Clint Eastwood response was, “Don’t let the old man in.” I highly recommend listening to that song. Every time I listen to it, I cry. Stay frosty.

Thank you.

Phil

As to Joe Biden and his PC diagnosis. Really hard to believe that at his age he was not given REGULAR PSA tests. Is he really that stupid? Well, it was found with biopsy after the big red flag of an elevated PSA showed itself ( again stupid) to have waited so long Gleason 9 . Again, Joe, you were not heeding possible warnings in the recent past? Sorry Joe, but you are basically f****d Now the news media will try to sugar coat your very grim prognosis. With the cliche chorus of "thoughs and prayers" So pitiful and idiotic.
Lacco