Getting ready to take my first dose of Orgovyx and Abiterone.....

Posted by stage4lovolmetpc @stage4lovolmetpc, Feb 20 1:52pm

I have had the drugs in my hand for 2 days now and am hoping to be able to start them this weekend. I am having a hard time saying goodbye to my old life and starting my new one. For background, I am 72, went to the ICU in Aug 2025 with a huge blood clot in my arm. 3 days later left with Eliquis and a PSA of 66. Had a digital exam, hard lump. Dr did biopsy Sept 2025. 14 out of 14 cores positive, Gleason 8 4+4. Dr said the clot was caused by the cancer.
Psma petscan with Posluma Oct 2025. Stage 4 low volume met pc.
Monthly PSA went from 66 to 58 to 50 now its at 55. Testosterone was 290, 330, 338 now 430. After bargaining with myself and the Dr, Feb 2026 the nurse supervisor came in and had a talk with me...bone cancer is not pretty. So I am resigned to the fact that I have to do this, to slow the spread, shrink the tumor that my prostate has become and be responsible for my health going forward. Doing nothing is no longer an option. I have been reading the posts here for weeks, doing my research and going back and forth on what I will do....and now the time has come....800 dollars worth of one months drugs are waiting for me....I hope I can take them soon...laughing at myself....still bargaining.....maybe just one more day....

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

stage4lovolmetpc | @stage4lovolmetpc | Feb 20 1:55pm

pardon me...Abiraterone..spelling!

mjp0512 | @mjp0512 | Feb 20 2:10pm

Take the pills, dude. Untreated, advanced prostate cancer becomes extremely painful.

jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | Feb 20 2:42pm

You need to be aware of the side effects of Zytiga. I was on it for 2 1/2 years. He gave me high blood pressure something I never had before. Six years later, I’m still on three blood pressure medication’s twice a day. It also caused me multiple Afib Events, One putting me in the hospital for four days. What I’m getting at is that it is hard on the heart. I had a lot of hot flashes from Lupron, which is the same as Eligard. I was able to get on a hormone that stopped the hot flashes, but then I started abiraterone And the hot flashes came back pretty significantly.

It lowers your testosterone a lot more than Eligard, So you may find you have fatigue from it. I’ve worked with some people that have had severe fatigue and 5 mg of prednisone was not enough. They had to move up to 10 mg in order to eliminate the severe fatigue.. You just have to see how well it works for you. Some people don’t have problems with it. I know someone who was on it for five years without significant issues.. He did have to have open-heart surgery after five years, however, Can’t say for sure it was Zytiga.

Just some things to be aware of.

stage4lovolmetpc | @stage4lovolmetpc | Feb 20 2:43pm

Oh I am going to take them, but I think ill enjoy another 24 hours of drug free life ....the pc has been growing inside me for years, whats the hurry? I am very fit, have no symptoms beyond a little urinary urgency, work on my rural property from dawn till dusk and am active in many other ways. So thanks, "dude" I appreciate your articulate response and wish you the best in your personal journey, wherever it may take you.

stage4lovolmetpc | @stage4lovolmetpc | Feb 20 2:50pm

In reply to @jeffmarc "You need to be aware of the side effects of Zytiga. I was on it for..." + (show)

Thanks for the heads up. I have my blood pressure cuff ready and waiting....I already have high blood pressure and am on no medication for it so Ill be taking my bp a few times a day....I have had to find all of this on my own, the Dr is not spending much time explaining things to me....I live in rural upstate NY, so the medical options and ability to travel are limited. But thats okay, I can read and your posts have been very helpful.

mjp0512 | @mjp0512 | Feb 20 3:46pm

In reply to @stage4lovolmetpc "Oh I am going to take them, but I think ill enjoy another 24 hours of..." + (show)

@stage4lovolmetpc Wasn't trying to be articulate but I could be if that will deter your procrastination. Believe me, you do not want it to progress further. Yes, life changes a little, but I still take care of the property and the animals. It just takes a little longer.

I was very fit too. Then I had some urgency, and then I was in renal failure in a hospital bed. Prostate cancer is very slow growing until it isn't. Best wishes!

bens1 | @bens1 | Feb 21 4:59am

@stage4lovolmetpc
You may want to get a quick telehealth opinion from another doctor. If metastasis has occurred, I have heard that it can impact you faster, even in the immediate, versus the slower growth, generally, of prostate cancer. Maybe its fine if you wait, which is understandably your wish but it may be worth getting another opinion about the meaning of waiting, even in the short term.

canadaanne | @canadaanne | Feb 21 7:13am

It is a hard diagnosis to accept and I understand wanting to hold on to ‘normal’.
I’m glad you will start taking the pills. My husband is on Orgovyx (Relugolix) and we are thankful for this medication as it is working (one month in). He started triple therapy last week.
I hope your treatment goes well.

lag | @lag | Feb 21 8:31am

In reply to @jeffmarc "You need to be aware of the side effects of Zytiga. I was on it for..." + (show)

@jeffmarc I just want to chime in to say that not everyone has bad side effects on Zytiga. My husband took it without problems, and it kept his Stage 4 prostate cancer suppressed for over three years. If it is prescribed, my advice is to try it and see how you tolerate it.

steveduke | @steveduke | Feb 22 8:06am

I am 74, just finished 6 mos Orgovyx with Abiraterone, with definitive radiation to destroy the offending gland. . Gleason 4+4, perineal invasion and Cribriform. But no mets so far.

Like you I had prior battles, my key one being Acute Myeloid Leukemia with adverse mutations, for which I got a bone marrow transplant Feb 23. Ongoing issues but in remission.

The decision to do the prostate treatment was risky and fully discussed with docs and family. Survived it despite two brushes with death due to my leukemia compromised immune system getting hit further.