In praise of Orgovyx No. 2

@surftohealth88
Thanks for asking, Mrs. Surf. I started both RT and the patch last Wednesday. Definitely had some ups and downs (pressure in head, some nausea, stomach ache, fatigue). I couldn't tell if the cause was the RT or the patch, but after talking with my RO today, it's clear it's the patch. The good news is I biked 15 miles yesterday and felt good. Today, I jumped on my bike as soon as I got done with RT. I wasn't feeling good to start but after a few minutes of biking I felt a lot better (14 miles today). Personal testimony supporting the benefits of exercise 🙂
In other news I got a "second opinion" last Friday at MSK. The doctor didn't think there were enough long-term data to support the patch (he did support 2 years of Zytiga). However, today my RO pointed out that the PATCH trial (which showed similar performance between the patch and "regular" ADT) was based on the same data set as the STAMPEDE trial, which is one of the studies the MSK doctor relied on to support 2 years of Zytiga. My RO and I agreed many doctors are simply risk averse to trying new things 🙂
Finally, advice on prep for the RT each day: it will take some trial and error to get the bladder and rectum right for treatment. This is expected and there are times I had to get off the table and drink more water and return for treatment. Also, you can drink too much water. Once I had to get off the table and "tap the keg" (sorry for the teenage boy humor) and then return for treatment (told you I was an overachiever).
All the best to your husband and I hope the RT starts soon so you can get that behind you.

Orgovyx side effect?? This is not an earth-shattering, life-changing observation, but I am curious to see if anyone else out the has shared my experience. I embarked on my ADT (Orgovyx, 120mg tablet daily) in February 2026, shortly before starting proton beam therapy. Since then I have noted a condition which may or may not be related to Orgovyx. First, by way background, since early childhood, I have been troubled by a buildup of wax in my ears, at times reaching the point where I had to go to a medical professional to have it removed. I also have a hearing deficiency which requires me to wear hearing aids. The hearing aids are fitted with a wax filter and dome which can become fouled by a wax buildup, thereby necessitating replacement. Prior to starting on Orgovyx, I regularly had to replace one dome/filter combination for each ear every 5 to 6 days, for a total of 10-12 replacements per month. At this point, after 21 weeks of ADT, the frequency of dome/filter replacement has decreased to about two per month per ear, for a total of 4 replacements per month. Is it possible that Orgovyx is having the unforeseen effect of reducing ear wax formation?

@bikeman1
Thanks so much for the update 🤗 and for all of the additional tips and details : ))) ! It is good to know that "getting off the table" is not the end of the world, even though for us "overachievers" it may feel like it lol.

I agree with your RO, doctors are in general very slow to embrace new approaches for multiple reasons. Good that you found one that is more in line with your wishes and comfort level.

Regarding SA , I am sorry that you have some of them and for me personally nausea would be the worst : ((, I just hate that feeling and unfortunately I am easily nauseated 😵‍💫. My nervous system in that area is totally crazy - anything upsetting (bad smell, high heat, big waves, too many curves, bad news - I am nauseated lol !!! I HATE that feeling , and may the lord help a doctor who pushes that spatula even remotely past the half of my tongue lol - well, I guess everybody after me in that office do have much easier time with exams LMAO.

It is great to hear that your favorite sport is helping you with SAs : )))) - yeayyyyy !!! 👍 MULTIPLE benefits by doing something that you love to do : )) ! I am sure that after some time your body will adjust and that nausea and stomach ache will stop to bother you.

Keep us posted : ))) and may RT completely obliterate all of the cancer cells and ADT kick their naughty behinds out of all glands forever 🍀. We are in this treatment for a long haul but the word "long" sounds great to me ; ) in the grander scheme of thing ; ))) !

All the best always <3

Hi Mrs. Surf.
Luckily the nausea was mild and only lasted part of a day. There have been some ups and downs but nothing that is too bad. I am optimistic that once my body gets used to all the new drugs (I just started Zytiga and prednisone yesterday) that things will calm down.
I think I will start a new thread about the patch experience for people who might have an interest in it but not look in this thread, which is about Orgyvx.
Thanks for the encouragement!!

@bikeman1 I only got kicked off the table once and that was for too full of a bladder. That was the first time I had radiation in the afternoon and I knew I was in trouble when I could barely hold it in the waiting room. My concern though was peeing myself not being over full.
Live and learn.

@bikeman1 Best of luck!

If you do run into trouble, consider the steroid (Prednisone) as a major suspect: some of us react very badly to steroids.

In that case, you might be able to switch from Zytiga to one of the newer second-generation ARSIs (the -lutamides), which don't require a steroid.

ORGOVYX, (relugolix) was recently found not to affect the
soft plaques in the coronary arteries. They are the culprits in
heart attacks and strokes. The more visible calcific plaques are
not the problem.

@northoftheborder
I had to take Prednisone for another issue but had to stop after a few days. When I tried to fall a sleep at night I had a problem, I could not doze off(hard to explain).

Dave 3+4

@clevelandguy Yes, I had exactly that in hospital after my surgery when I was on steroids to take down the swelling in my spine. If I woke up, looked at my watch, and found I'd been asleep for 15 min straight, it felt like a big victory.

@clevelandguy
Steroids cause me serious insomnia too.