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Prostate cancer treated with Leuprolide
I had 43 days of prostate cancer radiation about 5-6 years ago. My PSA becgan to rise in summer of 2014. Suddenly it went from 5 to 20 in 4 months, only to drop a bit the next week. My doctor suggets Leuprolide which is administered every 6 months by a shot. I've read many bad side affects(swelling of feel and legs, visual changes, hot flashes and generally lower testrosterone levels). Have others had this problem? I'm wondering if I should wait a month and have the PSA drawn again?.
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Yes, mine was better with exercise. I noticed it the most when I got up in the morning. I took the same amount of calcium and D3 from the start, but it wasn't enough. Have been taking an additional 5000 IU of D3 for a week and pain and stiffness is lessened.
While on Lupron I has high dose brachytherapy followed by 25 external beam radiation treatments. I have been on Lupron for 18 months and have 2 more injections (every 3 months) left in the treatment. The worst side effects that I have are total loss of libido, loss of memory and mental acuity. The other side effects are manageable with the help of my medical team. I hope to get off Lupron and hopefully never have to use it again.
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1 ReactionI have been taking Lupron for a year now following Focal Laser Ablation treatment. Concurrent to this I also followed the Rick Simpson Oil Treatment protocol for 90 days (phoenix tears marajuana oil). I have had sweats, achey joints but my PSA has been consisiently very low at .1 and .2. I have decide not to use radiation as the risks are very high in my case to cause urinary and colon problems. I found the Lupron therapy to be tolerable although there is a loss of strength and sexual activity is out the window. However I sleep through the night , no penis burning, no urgency actually have not felt this well in a long time. I focused my treatment options based on quality of life as opposed to killing the cancer. I am 72 and should I live another good health 10 years even though I have cancer I would feel blessed and who knows what technology advances will be made in the next 10 years. WE all have a different approach and there are many treatment options.My choice was based on a least risk approach to quality of life.
I have been on Lupron now for a year the side affects i experience are hot flashes, low testo, tired. sore joints ocassionally however my PSA dropped to .1 and .2 and has been consistently at that metric. You kind of get accustomed to it and its all manageable.
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1 Reactionme too. I finished chemo on July 11 but have been on Eligard/Lupron since March. The hot flashes and fatigue, lack of sex drive, and fatigue are a small price to pay for avoiding the return of cancer, hopefully.
hook4fishes
Sorry to hear of your complications on hormone therapy. I have been on lupron and Abiraterone Acetate pills for 8 months with no side effects. PSA down from 24 to 0.44. At this time I am considering bracytherapy and low power adiation. Good luck for you in the future.
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1 ReactionI have been recommended hormone therapy for my prostate Cancer. I am seeking information on such therapy
Welcome @mitzkidz. Hormone therapy is a common therapy for prostate cancer. I have moved your post to this existing discussion:
- Prostate cancer treated with Leuprolide https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/prostate-ancer-treated-with-leuprolide/
Hormone therapy or androgen deprivation therapy, also called ADT, uses surgery or medicines to lower the levels of androgens made by the testicles. ADT medications include:
- Leuprolide (Lupron, Eligard)
- Goserelin (Zoladex)
- Triptorelin (Trelstar)
- Leuprolide mesylate (Camcevi)
You'll find many discussions about ADT in the prostate cancer group. What questions or concerns do you have about hormone therapy?
Do you know what is the best if Zolodex stops working on castrate sensitive that turns castrate resistive metastases stage 4
@melcanada, that's beyond my expertise. It's a good question to ask your oncologist who can answer specifically tailored to your medical and treatment history and current status.