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Is ADT causing anemia?

Posted by waynerl @waynerl, Aug 14 6:37pm

I have been on ADT therapy using Abiraterone and Prednisone for one year, my PSA is 0.1, but my red blood cell count is in the low range. I don't know how accurate PSA readings are concerning my cancer. The prostate cancer I had 15 years that was successfully treated with radiation came back a year ago and metastasized to my right lung. My oncologist says I have to stay on my ADT meds until I die from something else. But I am so tired all the time and struggle to breathe, due to anemia. ~Wayne L.

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waynerl | @waynerl | 3 hours ago
In reply to @jim18 "@stragale The on ADT until you die is often the case because most prostate cancer patients..." + (show)
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@stragale The on ADT until you die is often the case because most prostate cancer patients are elderly and die of something else. I took it as an indication that the disease was metastatic, so no 4 to 24 month and then done. In your case if the drugs stop working the usual switch is to a 2nd generation lutamide (Nubeqa, Erleada, or Xtandi). They will usually work when Abiraterone stops. Also 24 months to castrate resistant is old. Most patients go many years more now with the new lutamides. After that there are the other treatments mentioned.

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@jim18 Yes, it is metastatic and I am 79 years old so will likely just die in the next few years of something or other, maybe just old age. Lol

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stragale | @stragale | 2 hours ago
In reply to @waynerl "@stragale I thought I had already answered this but I don't see my reply, so I'll..." + (show)
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@stragale I thought I had already answered this but I don't see my reply, so I'll try again. I have had a full blood workup done. Here are some of the results: PSA 0.1, WBC 7.99, RBC 4.37, HGB 13.8, HCT 40.9%, MCV 93.6., etc. My oncologists, although serving at the VA Hospital in Seattle, are actually from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. I think my complaints about weakness and fatigue are mostly due to the effects of ADT and loss of testosterone. Maybe my claim re anemia is overstated, but I started taking slow release iron pills and B12 vitamins.
~Wayne

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@waynerl Thanks for sharing your results. The reference "normal" ranges vary from lab to lab. The two labs that I have been using have the following ranges for RBC: 3.5-5.5 and 4.4-5.6. For Hb they are: 12.6-16.5 and 13.0-17.0. For Hct, they are 39.5-50% and 41-54%. Based on either of these reference ranges, it appears that your numbers are in the normal range, so perhaps your fatigue/anemia is due to something else.

My own latest numbers as of yesterday are: RBC, 3.33; Hb, 10.6; and Hct: 33.5. They have come up a bit from a month ago for no apparent reason, except for the possibility that it's from having done several acupuncture appointments. The improvements are consistent with one paper (not sure of its quality) showing benefits.

I was taking an iron supplement (GNC 65 mg) every other day. I stopped when further testing showed that i had high ferritin, transferrin, iron binding capacity and total iron. I do still take B12 as I'm doing a mostly vegan diet at this point. My B12 levels and folate are normal

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stragale | @stragale | 2 hours ago
In reply to @gently "Did they say why. There might be an excellent reason. Were you offered any other remediation." + (show)
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Did they say why. There might be an excellent reason.
Were you offered any other remediation.

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@gently Perhaps they didn't because his RBCs, Hb, Hct were in the normal range.

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