← Return to Proton Beam Therapy - Comments on adding ADT? Yes or No?

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@jimcinak

I had a Gleason score of 4+4; the cancer appeared to be contained in the prostate with no obvious 'puching' of the outer membrane. I chose PBT at Mayo/Rochester. They suggested a short course of 4 months of ADT (Lupron, I think). My understanding was the reason for the ADT was to add to the possibility that injured or damaged prostate cancer cells would not have the 'food' of testosterone.
I had reduced libido, increased ED and perhaps increased emotional lows (hard to distinguish ADT vs the middle of the pandemic).
Since then my PSA has stayed about .02.

ADT certainly has benefits depending on individual diagnoses and circumstances, but I (and others, I believe) might have benefitted with more coaching about the need for muscle strengthening /maintaining exercise and maybe emotional coaching. It was certainly 'different' to have my libido hit zero. Since the ADT shot has worn off, I've had some recovery of libido and ED. Not sure about muscle loss.

Hope that helps.

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Replies to "I had a Gleason score of 4+4; the cancer appeared to be contained in the prostate..."

@jimcinak, my prostate cancer is identical to yours except you were at Mayo Rochester two years before me.

4 +4 Gleason, Space Oar inserted in Feb. 2022, 5 sessions of PBRT in Mar. 2022. The only difference was that I was on Lupron for 14 months. Completely off Lupron as of Nov. 13th and waiting for side effects to wane. Mostly sleep issues and low energy. By April/May I hope to be back close to my normal self.

That being said, I wouldn’t change a thing regarding my treatment. Mayo is the best place to go for treatment of prostate cancer. Very appreciative and thankful for the care I received.