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← Return to ADT, maybe not? Anyone opted out of ADT?
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ADT, maybe not? Anyone opted out of ADT?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (136)Comment receiving replies
I know of two senior friends who have refused ADT, one after RT (27 treatments) and the other after RP (prostatectomy), then RT (40 treatments when PSA kept rising after RP) and experiencing one dose of Lupron. The latter said, "I'll never take another shot; I'll die of prostate cancer," citing the severity of side effects. I will have my first anniversary of ADT (Orgovyx) Christmas Eve, and I freely admit that the side effects are significant. I was diagnosed with lesions in the prostate and in two adjacent lymph nodes. I had 44 RT (radiation treatments) but no surgery. My oncologists (first and second opinion) are agreeable with my stopping ADT at 18 months, next June. I'll be saying prayers that my PSA stays low and testosterone returns reasonably well. PSA will be monitored every three months for a couple of years then at six months intervals afterward, if I understand correctly. I'm 74.
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@jime51
I am in the same boat as your friend who had severe side effects. I stopped Lupron at 4 months and believe another month would have killed me. It took 4 months after treatment stopped before the side effects began to subside. At 5 months they are about 50% of what they were with 24/7 sweats and headaches plus brain fog, frequent urination, and joint and muscle pain. I exercise a lot for an 83-year-old and can do more than most men my age. My PSA at 1 month and 4 months were < 0.1 while testosterone were 6.9 and 8.7 respectively. I was Stage T3b, PSA 11.0, and with Gleasons of three 3+4 and one 4+ 4 out of 12 samples. I will get my third PSA test in a month.