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Anyone considered bilateral orchiectomy: Why or why not?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Nov 11 10:43am | Replies (52)Comment receiving replies
I was on monthly injections of Lupron and casodex for 3+ years. I started treatment in 2011 and stopped in 2014. I was 59 when I started and 62 when I stopped. I had had all of the kids I was going to have. I had a number of discussions with my wife regarding "to have or not have a bilateral orchiectomy". Truth be told our sex life stopped after the first Lupron shot in 2011. The seriousness of my cancer in 2011 with a PSA of over 25,000 (yep you read that right), 20 or so cancerous lymph nodes ranging in size from a football to a golf ball, jaundiced (on the verge of kidney and liver failure) and chronic itching from head to toe due to extremely toxic blood and a REMARKABLE response to ADT (My PSA dropped from over 25,000 to 103 in 8 weeks as a result of ADT therapy) meant I either needed the orchiectomy or I would need to be on ADT for the rest of my life. I had no way of knowing the long term effects of but I preferred not to be a guinea pig and was tired of butt shots so after the talk to my wife I opted for the orchiectomy in 2013. BTW I have been cancer free since and my PSA has remained undetectable for over 9 years. I feel (actually WE (my wife and I)) that we made the right decision. Once you learn how to overcome motivation for things like everything like exercise by just getting up and doing it!!! the tough work is done. I think I'd opt for the orchiectomy 10 out of 10 times rather than deal with the unknown side effects of long-term ADT therapy!!! BTW RXHARLEYDUDE where are you from and who is your Mayo urologist? All my best and prayers. Feel free to reach out to me at any time. Bucky
Replies to "I was on monthly injections of Lupron and casodex for 3+ years. I started treatment in..."
I had a prostatectomy in September 2015. I also had salvage radiation a few months later. I had a PSA of 0.9 for 8 years. In December of 2023 my Psa went up to 0.16, and has been going up ever since. It is now 3.75. My urologist ordered a Petscan and it showed that the cancer was in 11 pelvic lymph nodes. He told me that I needed chemical Hormone therapy. He never told me about an Orchiectomy. I have terrible reactions from meds of any kind, so my wife and I decided on a Orchiectomy. I know for me that it's the best choice over long-term meds. But I am really concerned about the side affects of removing 95% of the testosterone. But I don't have much of a choice. I want to slow or stop the cancer progression. I see that a lot of you all who have had Orchiectomys are glad you did. I am having my testicles removed next week. Hot flashes all the time are my main concern. How are symptoms?
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Would you be willing to share who did your Orchiectomy at the Mayo?
Which location. I am having a hard time finding a Urologist who will do this procedure. They all want to go the ADT route.