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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
Lupron and general health question.
I've decided to terminate further Lupron at 1 yr post radiation. It's primarily a quality of life issue: gone is the healthy male body. Currently, I have gained and redistributed 12 pounds, 2 inches in the waist, and even an inch in my neck!. Muscles have shrunk. I have lost all muscle strength (particularly my legs), stamina, and lung capacity. It's really ugly. I want to go back to weights in the gym, but to be completely honest, I feel embarrassed by what has happened to me, and I suspect it would be a waste of time.
Here's my question, and it's hardly a new one. Is there much point in returning to the gym.? How much, if any, of my strength and stamina can I get back? In past months, I've really not seen encouraging or convincing replies to this question.
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For those who want details:
Lupron 3 months prior to Viewray radiation:
PSA went from 7 to 3 ng/mL
Testosterone to < 6 ng/mL (reference 200 - 1000ng/mL)
Five months later, having had my second Lupron dose, and now plus two months post radiation:
PSA < 0.01 ng/mL
Testosterone < 6 ng/mL
Diagnosis: PSA 7 after 3 years rising. Two lesions Gleason 9. Clean PSMA PET
Replies to "Lupron and general health question. I've decided to terminate further Lupron at 1 yr post radiation...."
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My situation is different: my cancer, when diagnosed, had spread to my bones. The only treatment choice I had was physical or chemical castration. I chose Lupron and I have been getting monthly doses for the past 21 years. From the outset, I was told to regularly exercise. I have been diligent in that effort. The key, however, is not to overdo it. If you break down muscle, you cannot get it back unless you let testosterone to increase, which, in my case, would give the cancer all it needs to return. A real double-edged sword!
Does your doctor believe your cancer is gone or in remission? If the latter, then stop the Lupron and start building some muscle mass. But easy does it!