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Lupron Treatment Duration: How long were you on it?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Jan 22 10:27am | Replies (137)Comment receiving replies
My understanding is that the cancer becomes active again while getting Lupron because it has developed ways of producing its own testosterone and is less dependent on the testosterone made by the body. Lupron, however, still slows cancer growth to some degree. This is probably an oversimplification but, as a layman, it’s the best I have.
Replies to "My understanding is that the cancer becomes active again while getting Lupron because it has developed..."
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If your doctor knows their stuff, you should get a three-week dose of Casodex (generic Bicalutamide) when you get your first shot. Yes, Lupron or Eligard tends to increase your testosterone when first taken before lowering it. The Casodex pill, taken daily, is an immediate ADT which counteracts this tendency. When I got the Eligard/Bicalutamide combo last December, I was confused by this dichotomy, but the doctor explained it to me pretty much as I noted above.
In my case, the Eligard shot was used to make sure that the cancer wouldn't spread before I started radiation. Further tests (CT scan, bone scan, MRI) showed that the cancer had not spread beyond the prostate, so no further ADT is required.