PSA - 17.1, are Lupron injections necessary?

I have been on Testorone replacement therapy for about a year. I am not a fan of having to jab myself in the thigh every two weeks but it solved many problems that I had after treatment.
After my radiation & Lupron treatment I was left with so little energy that getting out of bed every day was a challenge. I have made a lot of progress loosing weight and building muscle and feel great.
My urologist is strongly opposed to my taking Testorone and I am constantly on guard for a spike in my PSA. I am not sure what I would do if I had to go back on Lupron as it destroyed my quality of life.

Your grandfather’s PSA is way too high! At 79 years of age, Lupron is the best option. Quality of life? If he is sensitive to hormones deprivation, he will live much longer, assuming he has no other health concerns, and will be able to enjoy his family and friends.

Did you have another choice? If you don’t care about living, then your advice is spot on.

17.1 psa I would say as long as it hasn't spread. I would go with radiation alone with 5 treatments. Mine was at 11.5 or more. and I'm down to 1.65 in less than a year.

Hello there,
I just had a Radical Prostatectomy on 10/25/23 after initially diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in early August with subsequent tests and further tests confirming the degrees and serious of my Cancer. Fortunately, it had not spread past my Prostate. However, I was past the “Wait & See” stages and had to make a treatment decision pretty quickly. I researched both the surgical and radiation alternatives pretty thoroughly. Keep in mind, both approaches provides about the same level of efficacy. However, they couldn’t be more different in their approaches to treating your Prostate Cancer. Keep in mind, there is NO best approach for any patient. However, after doing all of your research, speaking to a number of physicians, Urologists, Oncologist Urologists, Surgeons and Radiologists etc. You will certainly determine which approach is best for you. I’ve had and been treated for HYPOGONADISM 11 years prior to my Prostate Cancer diagnosis. In short, I also suffer from 2 long term debilitating disease states which would have mage it impossible fir me to get to the hospital Monday-Friday for 5-6 weeks for my radiation treatments. Secondly, they were going to “Medically Castrate” me with LUPRON and or in combination with some other meds to alleviate as much Testosterone in my body as mush as possible. So, my decision was pretty easy, All of my Cancer was limited to my Prostate and I wanted the Cancer out of my body ASAP. Secondly, if my Cancer were to ever return 5-10 years or later, I could utilize the Radiation option then. As it was, I had to stop taking my normal “TRT” TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY for 6 months after the completion of my surgery. I was absolutely “dragging” and feeling horrible with no energy at all. The longest I had ever stopped my “TRT” during the 12 years I was taking it was 7 weeks and I was well aware of what those effects were let alone what 6 months would feel like. My normal “T” levels without hormone replacement therapy average between 20 and 110. That is extremely low. Happily, I returned to my “TRT” 6 months after my Radical Prostatectomy and feel much much better with a overall “quality of life” I can live with. So, speaking for myself, taking LUPRON or anything like that can not be a viable option for me. I spent over 20 plus years of my life prior to getting cancer in bed and home confined and I am not returning to that life in prison again. Like I said, this is a personal decision for each patient based on their past and current health history, risk attitudes and the values they place on quality vs quantity if life. Like every responsible patient, I will continue to check my PSA and other relevant numbers and symptoms relative to my cancer. Should it be necessary to make some or any adjustments in the future than I will do so. However, I much prefer and enjoy having my LIBIDO back as I continue to recover and improve the symptoms of my ED. Happily, my Incontinence is about 90% recovered. My elections are about 60%-70% pre surgical stiffness and effectiveness. I’ve had a little vaginal penetration but need to improve more to really accomplish that. However, without being on my “TRT, I still wouldn’t have any LIBIDO! To each their own but “TRT” plus taking ED pills are helping me find my way back to my sexuality and ability to
Make love to my wife again. I am determined to have the quality and consistency of the wonderful sex life my wife and I enjoyed before my Radical Prostatectomy. I will be 69 years old this August. Best of luck and best wishes to all of the men out there trying to find the balance of maintaining some of the most important elements of their manhood while preserving their health and well being. For me….getting and keeping a nice string erecting I can pleasure my wife to an orgasms with is still a big deal to me as a person and a man!!!

Hello,
I understand your concern about Lupron. The side effects were more than I could handle, and my Oncologist started me on Relugolix which has been much more tolerable. I take one 125 mg. tablet each day, and my PSA number has been 0.25 for 16 months. I am told that the metastasis will eventually build up a resistance to the hormone therapy, and I will have to move on to a stronger therapy.
It can be a long journey, and difficult decisions have to be made, so hang in there. I wish your grandfather the very best. Best regards.

Did you take anything with the lupron such as Abiraterone,I agree I could live with this the rest of my fatigue and hot flashes, or a cheap price to play for keeping you alive. Mine was under control but now it went to aggressive cancer in new areas so I’ve had chemo now I’m back on radiation. Hang in there Dave.

Dave. I was in and still in a clinical trial at UCLA for Aggressive, CR PC ( Gleason 9 ) which included 6 months lupron and Erleada then RP then 6 months of lupron and Erleada. Some men got the procebo but my blood pressure substantially increased which was a side effect of Erleada so I figured that I got Erleada and lupron. The lupron + procebo group of men, on an average, advanced to the next stage in 17 months and the Erleada group advanced on an average of 41 months. I am in my 18 th month, being monitored, PSA .01, testosterone .9, feel pretty good and hopeful as hell. When I started this journey, my surgeon estimated a 4-5 year life expectancy, the department head Doctor at UCLA gave me 5-7 years I am hopeful for more and I keep in mind the history of Michael Milken who UCLA gave 2 years and he is still alive and very active 25 years after diagnosis. Best of luck to us all.

FACT: absolutely NO physician, Oncologist, Palliative Care Specialist or surgeon can predict or elk you how long you are going to live. Obviously, you are either living alive or dead! However, that’s not the same as “living and NOT living!” Firstly, no physician, test, therapy(s) or treatments can account for everything. Every single patient is different and unique in their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual experience of their life. They have varying degrees of support and support symptoms from others. A fact that is mostly ignored ir rather discussed is that each patient has different “Unconscious & Subconscious” beliefs affecting all aspects of their lives including their ability to continue yo survive and the quality of life they enjoy or not while doing so. Obviously, there are various patient historical data and statistics that will more or less support any physician’s point of view or prediction regarding one’s length of time or predicted remaining lifespan. The best that any cancer patient can and their care team can accomplish is to keep them in remission for as long as possible. Admittedly, at age 69 and having already spent more than 20 plus years in bed and home confined I am well aware of various “Quality of Life Issues” versus “Quantity of Life” choices. These are deeply personal and very individualistic where NO RIGHT or BEST decisions exist. There are only the best decisions as you see most appropriate for you, your family and loved ones. As long as your cancer has not metastasized or spread into your bones you have a good chance of prolonging your life. Assuming enough quality of life is present in your everyday experience. GOD BLESS all of my fellow cancer patients for the best quality of life they can have enjoying a state of remission.
GOD SPEED

I suspect that most of us will have the PC metastasize and the bone is the most common place for it to go. I have not experienced that yet but I am expecting it. If and when it does I will get appropriate treatment and hopefully still have many more years, however, who knows.

Man plans and God laughs.