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Lupron yeah or Lupron nay that is the question.
I've rationalized my need for Lupron Therapy. But there are holes in my analysis. The holes are there because of lack of data. So I'm in search of data. I want to hear the real data on the pros and cons of Lupron. All I have heard are generalities. Nothing specific, nothing quantatative, so let's get real.
I invite all to participate including moderators as this is relevant to all and also beneficial to all. My initial query. Who, what facility, has my Lupron answers? They have to be there else we would not be using that form of therapy. It had to have been researched into oblivion as are all procedures in the US of A thus justifying their cost structuring. When does Lupron cease to be effective? That is, what quantifiable condition of our tumors renders Lupron useful? If your doctor says you are cured of your cancer then why continue it's use? If it ain't broke why "fix" it??
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Lupron side effects can include:
Depression
Anxiety
Insomnia
Frequent hot flashes
Emotional lability
Frequent crying
Bone loss
High blood pressure
High blood sugar
Low red blood count
Body hair loss
Erectile disfunction
Testicle shrinkage
Side effects that I haven’t experienced:
Weight gain
Muscle loss
Uncontrollable anger
Fatigue
Growth of breasts
Penis shrinkage
The longer you are on Lupron, the more likely you are to experience these effects that are caused by both Lupron and no or extremely low testosterone.
As awful as these side effects are, they are still better than uncontrolled metastasis of prostate cancer to your bones, heart and brain!
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1 ReactionI meant lungs, not heart although it could spread to the heart as well.
It is not standard of care for all levels or types of PC.
Of course not. I said in my post that my husband has Stage 4 MCRPC. I do believe that Zytiga/Abiraterone and prednisone plus Lupron is one of the SOC regimens for men in that situation.
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1 ReactionI would agree with that.
I guess you just sold me on Lupron for my husband who's been on it for 4yrs! We're both young 77s, feel 60, and celebrated our 60th anniversary in April 2025. We just moved from TX to NM & the new Cancer Ctr gave him Eligard instead of Lupron, but that's ok. I studied all about the comparison (retired RN) & it is a good choice. I want us to live 20 more years like his mother did, ha! I sure thank God for forums like this!!!
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1 ReactionOur wedding anniversary is September 3rd, and it would have been 65 years. He passed in May, and it’s still pretty raw. But, he was in great shape right up to the last few months, Nd I’m grateful for that.
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3 ReactionsThanks so much for sharing. I meant to say sorry for your loss. That is very, very recent. We both have a lot to share on this forum. My most recent declaration is to give up trying to change the Dr's minds re: this ongoing treatment, but just to make sure there is no harm done. His last TX Onc. did agree to let him stop the Abiraterone/Prednisone about a year ago & his last PSA went from 0.1 to 0.06! We'll always watch it like a hawk, of course! God bless you, too!
Oh, boy! I have gone thru heck coming to grips with my husband having to do Lupron every 3mos for over 4yrs. I'm a retired RN & have enough knowledge to be dangerous! So, when they never could really prove to me that his 3+4 biopsy, slow growing, very little cancer just within his prostate had metastasized to a non-regional lymph node with a 72 PSA, because the 2nd CT a little over a month later was clear as a bell! However, he is doing so well and doesn't believe they're trying to hurt him by keeping him on treatment that I may doubt he really needs. I will just try to keep making sure no harm is done. Hope that helps you a little bit. God bless you!
I got 6 Month Lupron shots for almost seven years. Then I switched to Orgovyx for the last 2 years. All ADT. As soon as I became castrate resistant, they put me on an ARSI as well.
I had a 3+4 Gleason and had surgery. After surgery, it was a 4+3, but it did not spread anywhere outside the prostate. It came back 3 1/2 years later and I had radiation. They gave me my first 6 month Lupron shot before radiation and I never really even noticed Any side effects. I stayed undetectable for 2 1/2 more years and then it came back again. At that point, 9 years ago, they put me on ADT I have BRCA2, Which is why it keeps coming back.
A 72 PSA With lymph node involvement is higher risk! It’s no wonder you are on four years of Lupron. Once the cancer gets to your lymph nodes, it’s in your bloodstream and can spread anywhere. That’s why the continued Lupron, It prevents growth and spread.
Something to be concerned about is staying on only Lupron for so long. If your husband became castrate resistant, that could shorten his overall survival. I became castrate resistance 2 1/2 years after taking Lupron, which is the average?. Once you become castrate resistant, the median survival is two years. For me that was six years ago, way beyond the median, But I started off with a low PSA and no spread.
They have now found that if you are on ADT taking an ARSI Can greatly delay the time Until castrate resistance. If you do some searches, you can confirm what I’m saying. It might make sense to ask your doctor to put you on an ARSI. The easiest one on the body is Nubeqa. That could Delay time to castrate resistance. As long as he’s been on ADT, it could happen anytime so you wanna try to delay it. Zytiga could also delay it, But it comes with lots of side effects.
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