Stage 4 prostate cancer treatment options

I am scheduled to start Lupton next week, but I'm a bit apprehensive about going that route after reading all the side effect reviews on various sites. Folks here seem very positive, so if appreciate any input on how this regiment effects quality of life. Just diagnosed date 4 Gleason 10 PSA 15. I'm 72 this Monday. Have been on bicalutamide for just one week and I'm scheduled for a CT abdomen and Pelvic bone scan in about two weeks. Any input would be appreciated. Just new to this. Thanks PapaBill

@philnob I am wondering the same about weight gain. I started Lupron a couple weeks ago. Within a week noticed weight increase of 3-4 pounds. Now watching diet and exercise carefully, but wondering what to expect.

Just a heads up on the use of Lupron. I was diagnosed with Prostrate Cancer October 2018. I went to Mayo Phoenix for treatment. They began with Lupron injection and 2 months later 20 applications of proton beam therapy. I had my second lupron injection last April and my last one in November.
The research that I've seen on cutting off your testosterone is that you will lose bone mass. It's a given. Calcium, vitamin D, and exercise helps, but you need to have your bone mass checked. Mayo checked mine in November. The result showed I was almost 3 times more likely to have a bone fracture then an average person. Last week I had an infusion of Reclast to protect my bones until my testosterone kicks back in.

The problem is how to treat the more advanced levels of the cancer, i.e. Gleason score of 8 or higher. That's when they feel that ADT becomes important. My radiation oncologist told me on my first visit that using Lupron with radiation increases my chance of "survival" by 20%. It brought it up from 60% to 80%, and I didn't have any secondary spread of the cancer. Needless to say that caught my attention. So, my wife and I are willing to live with the issues that come with Lupron.

If you want to explore other options, you could look into new treatments for people who inherit mutations in DNA-repair genes found in advanced prostate cancers. If you go to Practice Update Advanced Prostrate Cancer and look at the video expert opinion section. There's a February 25 interview on Inherited DNA Repair Defects. I don't know if you've had Genome testing, but about 12% of men with advanced prostate cancer can have these defects and can be treated without radiation or surgery. It wasn't a part of any discussion I had with any doctor.

I have had. 3 Lupron shots , I feel that I don’t want anything feeding my prostate cancer so I elected to have them and yes there are effects after eventually they go away stay strong with weights and walking daily ..you will be fine

Thank you. Just getting started and have had very few discussions with doctors other than them ignoring my questions and just scheduling procedures and medications as if I would blindly go down any road. This site and my own research have opened up actreadure trove of information. Feeling more positive as I go along. Postponed my Lupton until after the CT scan and bone scan results come back. I've been dealing with undiagnosed symptoms for many years, so another week won't matter much in the scheme of things. Blessings.

You are right. There's a need for knowing what's the right thing to do, but you do have some time.