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First Chemo with Docetaxel done.

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Feb 18 10:29am | Replies (10)

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Profile picture for Jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

A real good combination of drugs. I’ve been on relugolix (Orgovyx) and Darolutamide for almost three years and undetectable for 27 months. They really work and the chemo can knock down the cancer so that they can be effective.

One thing you need to be aware of is there are a lot of side effects from ADT (Orgovyx).

Due to their different mechanisms of action. ADT which includes Orgovyx, Firmagon, Lupron, Eligard, Prostap, Camcevi, Lucrin, Zoladex, Trelstar, Pamorelin, and Decapeptyl can cause numerous side effects. Actually due to a lack of testosterone.
Hot flashes
Fatigue
Muscle deterioration
Bone weakening
Brain fog
Depression
Weight gain
Joint pain
Difficulty in breathing

Not all of these side effects occur to everyone on the drugs. Most of them are just things you have to be aware of and circumvent. I run on the track twice a day, 1 mile at least, to help prevent bone weakening, fatigue and muscle deterioration. I also go to the gym three days a week (usually) and spend an hour with all different types of weight exercises. One thing that happens is people get a beer belly from the muscle deterioration, I do a lot of sit-ups to offset that.

Some people get depression but it is not common. It is easily treatable, according to people that have reported it on here and on Online Meetings I have participated in. If he has that problem Come back and ask for help, Or see a psychiatrist about doing something to relieve the depression.

Some people get no hot flashes at all. Others only have a few hot flashes and they are very minor. I had severe hot flashes for the first year on Lupron. As a hot flash was hitting I would feel a lot of fatigue and sweat would pour down from my head into my eyes onto my chest and under my arms. After a year, my oncologist prescribed a depo-provera shot every three months and it really stopped those hot flashes on Lupron. There are other hormones that can do this, speak to your doctor. If you have this problem, we can give you a list of drugs that can stop it. A doctor at a recent conference put out a big list.
I know one person that says eating tofu every day really controlled his hot flashes, another person in this forum said the same thing. Tofu does have properties similar to endocrine hormones but a lot weaker. Can’t hurt to try it. Seems they ate it daily.

According to a doctor that spoke to a webinar, many people on ADT, if they are staying on ADT for an extended period or have become castrate resistant should be taking bone straighteners. I took Fosamax for six years and I’m now on Zometa. That along with calcium taken daily helps keep your bones strong. Ask your doctor about this. You really need to take 500 mg of calcium twice a day and at least 1000 mg of vitamin D. Speak to your doctor about this. It is really important. This be done to keep your bone strength.

I have never gained any weight while on ADT. I get on the scale every morning and base what I eat on what I weigh. Skip lunch at times. Some people gain a lot of weight. The average is 5 pounds but some gain more and some gain none..

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Replies to "A real good combination of drugs. I’ve been on relugolix (Orgovyx) and Darolutamide for almost three..."

@jeffmarc Hi Jeff

When you recommend " ... at least 1000 mg of vitamin D ..." did you mean to say IU rather than mg?

Most of the notes I've seen recommend 1,000 IU to 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day (which is 25 to 50 mcg)

Also, some sources recomment 400 - 420 mgs of magnesium glyginate taken separately from the calcium as they compete with each other during absorbtion.

I appreciate your active and detailed posts on this site.

@jeffmarc I have a friend who is having a recurrence post protector., .71 psa they gave him pills prior to getting him set up for a shot. His instructions said it would take 60 min. Sounds like an infusion to us. Do any of the”shots” take more than a few seconds? We are puzzled