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Lupron or Not at 76?
Background - biopsy in 2022 was completely clean. Biopsy in 2026, Gleason 9. PET shows cancer is localized.
Had first appointment with oncologist yesterday. Recommended 5 weeks of Photon radiation treatments and 2 years of Lupron. I'm fine with the radiation but:
I was told the success rate is 80% for the radiation and another 5% with the Lupron. One problem is the 80% success rate is not based on age groups so it's difficult to decide if the Lupron is worth it because:
I was told at 76 the 'recovery period' for Lupron = the amount of time you get the treatment. So 2 years of treatment + 2 years of recovery = 4 years. I'd be 80 and I was told at this age you often don't see the side effects of Lupron reverse so it seems high risk for not much reward.
Am I thinking about this correctly?
Has anyone roughly my age gone with Lupron and really regretted it? Why
THANKS!
FWIW at this point I need to decided between:
Radiation only
Radiation + 1 year of Lupron (my idea)
Radiation + 2 years of Lupron (recommendation from urologist and oncologist).
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Greetings
Lungs, jawbone, upper shoulders, spine and pelvic area. Yes cancer is castrate resistant. Since 3 years ADT. The cancer has regressed in jawbone and shoulder. But still in spine , pelvis area and lungs. Because of age chemo is ruled out.
@asims Like Pluvicto, Xofigo (Radium-223) is another isotope therapy, but it’s only for bone metastasis. Have they considered that? (It won’t treat the lung lesion, because it attaches to bone.)
@brianjarvis
Unfortunately, his doctors say there no other viable options based on age and ADT resistance.
He will just do lupron. I put in God’s hands now.
@asims
I’m a little puzzled as to why they have ruled out chemo for age. You can’t be much older than 71 and that is no age that they would rule out chemo for. I’m 78 and I’m pretty sure they’d give it to me right now if I needed it, I may need it in a few years.
Are you sure it wasn’t because of health issues?
Oh. It’s my father. He is 91
GG 3
6 month Lurpon shot May 2026
SBRT June 2026
No side effects from either
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1 Reaction@service1010 Forgot to add I am a healthy 75 yo
@service1010
You are very fortunate. My side effects were really bad for about 15 months until I started TRT.
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1 Reaction@tbgb50
I had PC with a GS of 8 with a large tumor, and it had escaped to my lymph nodes and a seminal vesicle. I started out with lupron, zytiga, and 25 days of radiation. I used the lupron and zytiga for 6 months, and now PSA is undetectable and Testosterone levels are 4. Obviously, the therapy was working well but I had real difficulty with the "side effects" .
I then heard about using estradiol patches (check out the PATCH study in Britain) as an alternative, and my PSA is still undetectable and testosterone has only risen to 6. The difference between how I felt on Lupron/Zytiga and Estradiol is incredible. It may be worth talking with your oncologist about though most will discount it before looking at the results.
Good Luck
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4 Reactions@tbgb50
First, make sure Orgovyx is in your Part D plan formulary, and check if there are limits (mine only covers it for 12 months). If it is in your Part D formulary, the maximum out of pocket expense for 2026 Part D medications is $2100. This rule applies to every Part D provider, you can read for yourself on Medicare.gov . After that you have no costs whatsoever. My copay was $646 per month, but once I hit $2100 all of my RXs are at no cost through the end of the year. I am Gleason 8 with Crib and IDC and my oncologist is hell bent on 18 months of ADT. If I can't talk him into 12 months I'll need to switch Part D providers this fall during open enrollment for 2027. I think max out of pocket next year will be $2200-$2400, and you can sign up to spread that out into equal payments throughout the year.