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Lupron Treatment Duration: How long were you on it?
I have been diagnosed with Grade 3 prostate cancer with a 4 + 3 Gleason score of 7. This after having 2 PSA scores last year between 4 and 7. The cancer has not spread to the bones. I have received two Lupron injections 3 months apart and will complete 28 radiation treatments in the next couple of days. No surgery. I have tolerated the Lupron shots well with few but manageable side effects. I have an appointment to receive a third Lupron shot next month. My first PSA test after completing radiation won't be scheduled for 3 months. From researching Lupron, it appears that this is used for advanced stages of prostate cancer. From what I was led to believe, I was not advanced. My question: How long and how many Lupron shots might I need to go through? I will have this discussion with my urologist hopefully before proceeding with the next shot. Thanks for any information provided by the group.
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I was diagnosed 7 weeks ago, had the Biopsy, both sides, maybe at the margin, Gleason Score is 8 so the protocol is to wait 3 months for surgery as the Biopsy inflames the little bas-ard. CT and Bone Scan said no spreading. Surgery Aug. 3rd. The lead Urologist asked if I wanted the Lupron now. I said YES. I got a 3 month shot of Lupron. It has been a month since the shot. I feel chitty, blurred eyes, very tired, some emotions too. I could feel it really kick me a week ago, now my weiner is smaller, my balls are feeling odd. I am sure I will get 4 months of radiation too after about a month after the surgery and all of this is very hard on a man. When they operate, they will take out some close by lymph nodes but did you all know that when they start cutting, the prostate is like a basketball here for an ex. when they cut, cancer cells get out so I think I will want to be on Lupron for a year or longer to make sure the cancer is starved out. I have a friend who had the surgery 18 years ago and is still on Lupron. He is afraid to stop it now.
I apologize if I wasn't clear, I'm actually still on orgovyx. I was curious as to why they don't give you that as soon as diagnosed to start starving out the cancer while you decide on / wait for treatment. The imaging answer seems the most plausible one.
Thanks!
Mike
I think the term advanced really just applies to the Gleason Score. My Stage 1 (not spread outside the prostate,) Gleason 8 was considered advanced.
I had my first Lupron injection in Dec '21, #2 in June '22, and #3 in Dec '22. Let's say it was 3 injections over one year. 20 EBR in Feb '22. My first PSA reading 6 months after Lupron #1 was undetectable and has remained so! In fact last week I went for #4 and the doctor felt I didn't need it! In my case the side effects of Lupron have been miserable and having no detectable PSA we called it quits! I'm a happy camper!
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1 ReactionI think that the term aggressive refers to gleason score ( I am 9 ) and advanced refers to any spread, including a local spread like seminal vehicles, as in my case. So they have advised me that my cancer is Gleason9, aggressive, advanced and castration resistant. I am post surgery, 13 months of ADT and Erleada and presently .01 PSA and 9 testosterone Good luck to all of you
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1 ReactionI was diagnosed with PC in Oct 2020 and was given eligard that day. I started my first treatment of 44 with radiation. I have been getting eligard shots every 6 months since. Had my latest one in April 2023 and I think I'll get another in Oct this year. I have zero side effects and my blood count is .1. My VA Dr. said these shots will help keep me alive and I said "just keep them coming".
Hope this helps someone.
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2 ReactionsIt is all about the money!!
This is perhaps off topic, but I have never noticed a posting about age being a factor when deciding to continue with Hormone Therapy. In Oct I will have had 9 months of Lupron treatments. Treatment plan is 36 months. My PSA has dropped from 12.9 to .09. Gleason was 4 - 4 total 8. Cancer confined to Prostate. I am 85 and in good health for my age (whatever that means) HT is affecting my strength and possibly short term memory. Additional leg weakness could put me in a wheel chair as I also have Peripheral Neuropathy. My question - being I am 85 and my life ahead is short, can an argument be made to do 12 months of HT and then if my PSA number goes up, return to HT? Thoughts???
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2 ReactionsYes, is the short answer.
To this nonmedically trained 73 yr old layperson, there are challenging decions to be made.
It seems that HT is being used in many ways today and for varying lengths of time, and intermittent treatment is one.
Why not try it?
Was 12.9 your highest PSA reading?
What diagnosis and tx path has lead you to this point?
Where are you being treated and what options have been presented to you?
Quality of life is an important issue for all of us with PCa.
As a G9 patient, I am concerned with aggressive growth without tx, and after BCR following RP, waiting/hoping for my HT side effects to diminish after salvage radiation and 4 mos of Orgovyx.
Would radiation be a tx option for you w/o HT, or with a short course of HT?
I think that you are asking the right questions, and all of us are seeking answers.
Best wishes.
I am facing surgery on Aug. 3 to cut the little basta-d our and am on Lupron for a month now. I am 70. This Lupron will stay in your body for a year or longer once you stop it so up to you bud. I don't like it at all but it does kill cancer or stop it a lot.
You don't mention your age. It makes a difference if you are over 70 weather you really needed Lupron at at being that you have intermediate risk prostate cancer and since you are doing 28 treatments it sounds like you are having proton radiation. You can Google studies about the need for ADT in men over 70. The studies show it makes almost no difference in biochemical reoccurrence or overall survival.