1. < Prostate Cancer
Profile picture for cble

Newly dx ….. starting down the path to treatment

Posted by cble @cble, Aug 30 6:24am

Well here I am….74 years old and fairly healthy
Discovered PC, limited to prostate and one gland…
Starting ADT this week and meeting with RO
I’m very pragmatic about the dx and the need for treatment
Not so about the anticipated side effects
I understand that there are continuing advances towards minimizing side effects/toxicities….
Can anyone offer advice about what I may face….
I’ve done my deep dive in the literature
BUT what may be my real life challenges ahead
Thanks for any input good or bad
Cheers

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for sbd
sbd | @sbd | Oct 27 12:33am
In reply to @jeffmarc "When you start ADT one thing that happens is your muscles start to deteriorate. Stomach muscles..." + (show)
Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

When you start ADT one thing that happens is your muscles start to deteriorate. Stomach muscles in particular weaken and you end up getting a belly very quickly. This may not be something you look forward to, but ADT gives you a lot more progression free survival.

Even though I really watch what I’m eating, I did get a little bit of a belly. In order to keep my muscles and bones healthy with ADT I walk on a track twice a day every day at least a mile each time and I go to the gym three times a week and do an hour of weight training. When I go to the gym, I do 60 or 70 situps every time to try to keep my stomach muscles in shape. I am 77 and have had prostate cancer for 15 years, It has reoccurred four times so I’ve been on ADT for nine years. I became castrate resistant six years ago, Beating out the median survival of two years. Leading a healthy lifestyle can really help.

The reason I do this is your bones start to deteriorate under ADT as well as your muscles. Many people on ADT end up with osteoporosis, So you wanna be careful about exercising and keeping your bones healthy?.

A bone specialist who was at a recent conference, said that everybody that is on ADT should be taking bone strengtheners. I was on Fosamax weekly for about six years and I am now on Zometa infusions every three months. Talk to your doctor about this, It is very important.

Jump to this post

@jeffmarc
All this information is really helpful. In the initial 9 years, while you were on ADT, was it ADT alone (which med), or was it ADT + ARSI (which ARSI again) ?
Is it a good idea to start with ADT (bilateral orch.) + ARSI, right when a person begins treatment of ADT + Radiation (recommended)? Or wait to see if one becomes Resistant and then introduce ARSI?

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for florida11
florida11 | @florida11 | 6 days ago

I believe daily exercise and a healthy diet make the world of difference for me in reducing side effects. I have noticeable or limiting fatigue. I gained 5 to 10 pounds in my stomach, but I’ve recently lost it from cutting calories a bit and doing a fasting mimicking diet every five or six weeks for five days.

I wish you the very best of luck!

REPLY
Profile picture for jeff Marchi
jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | 6 days ago
In reply to @sbd "@jeffmarc All this information is really helpful. In the initial 9 years, while you were on..." + (show)
Profile picture for sbd @sbd

@jeffmarc
All this information is really helpful. In the initial 9 years, while you were on ADT, was it ADT alone (which med), or was it ADT + ARSI (which ARSI again) ?
Is it a good idea to start with ADT (bilateral orch.) + ARSI, right when a person begins treatment of ADT + Radiation (recommended)? Or wait to see if one becomes Resistant and then introduce ARSI?

Jump to this post

@sbd
I was on ADT alone for 2 1/2 years. Then I became castrate resistant and I went on Biclutamide for over a year followed by Zytiga + prednisone For 2 1/2 years and then new Nubeqa for at least 2 1/2 years. I have BRCA2 so my cancer comes back very quickly if I stop the ARSI drugs. I actually stopped ADT for over six months when on Nubeqa, and stayed undetectable, but my Testosterone started rising too fast.

New studies have shown if you were on ADT you should also be on an ARSI because it will prevent you for becoming castrate resistant quickly like I did. If you become castrate resistant, your median survival is two years, I’m six years past that point, the drugs are much better now.

REPLY
Profile picture for asolidrock
asolidrock | @asolidrock | 6 days ago

Just be thankful yout hasn't spread; y8u have plenty of options.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.