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41-days of salvage RT - your experience with side effects?

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 4 11:50am | Replies (5)
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Thanks for the reply. Oops, bad typing on my part. Yes, it is a 41-day regime (8 weeks + 1 day), not 81 days.

Good to hear that you got through the ADT without any major side effects. And of equal importance, good to hear that your wife thought you did well. I’ve heard/read many stories that were just the opposite. And I know it’s different for every guy.

Yes, we discussed resistance training. I work out with hand weights at home, twice weekly, and I typically walk 8-10 miles/week, and try to get in a 10-15 mile bike ride/weekly.

The radiation dosage is planned to be 68.4 Gy for the nodule in the prostate bed and 45-50 Gy for the pelvic lymph nodes, prophylactically. The lymph nodes will be irradiated for only 28 days. All subject to adjustment, depending on what the pelvic MRI reveals.

My oncologist suggested Orgovyx for the STADT, largely because recovery from the side effects is quicker than, say, Lupron. Even with insurance, I would still have to pay $975/mo OOP for the Orgovyx. Big financial stress. Would do it if I saw a big upside, but that upside just isn’t there for me in my final analysis.

Thanks for your input!

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Replies to "Thanks for the reply. Oops, bad typing on my part. Yes, it is a 41-day regime..."
michaelcharles | @michaelcharles | Aug 4 8:15am

Melvin:

My Salvage Radiation Treatment protocol at age 73 was very similar: IMRT 66.6 gys to prostate region; 45 gys to pelvic nodes; short term ADT.

Agree with recommendations above: I walked every day and lifted lift dumbbells for upper body.

My primary SE was fatigue: My 45 min walk became 50+ mins. Now back to 45. Definitely an effort, especially in hot weather.

Drove 70 miles each way to COE for 8 wks of tx. Would do it again.

RO and SPORRT trial convinced me to take ADT.

If you are on Medicare, you should max out your annual $ 2000 out of pocket expense in about two months of Orgovyx. However many have been fine with Lupron or other ADT meds that have more comprehensive coverage.

It was an 8 wks ordeal for me, but necessary and so far very effective based upon undetectable PSA readings for almost 2 yrs.

Best wishes.

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