1. < Prostate Cancer

Lupron Treatment Duration: How long were you on it?

Posted by frankstags @frankstags, Jul 7, 2020

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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baxterlee77 | @baxterlee77 | Aug 14, 2023
In reply to @ronmcq1 "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March. I have cancer in my pelvic region on..." + (show)
@ronmcq1

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March. I have cancer in my pelvic region on both sides and a small spot on my sternum. My first shot of Lupron was in May. My second is coming up. However, his morning at my doctor's appointment, the nurse tells me I will have to be on Lupron the rest of my life or until it no longer works.
Has anyone else been told they will be on Lupron for the rest of their life?

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Russ has to be also

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jester2022 | @jester2022 | Aug 15, 2023

I have had 3 PSMA PET scans the last one on Aug 8, 2023. Nothing shows in my body anywhere except the lungs. In the lungs, the superior medial pulmonary nodule currently has an SUV of 5.2 as compared to 3.3. This nodule is seen in image 225. The anterior lateral right pulmonary nodule is seen in image 211 with an SUV of 2.0 as compared to 1.6. Another nodule is seen posteriorly within the superior portion of the right lower lobe on image 203 with a current SUV of 3.8 as compared to 4.3. Nodule within the lingula currently has an SUV of 2.1 as compared to 2.0. Nodules continue to be subcentimeter in size. A few areas of activity are noted within the left lung which appear to be new with mild increased accumulation of the radiopharmaceutical with no enlarged pulmonary nodules. One area, in particular, is seen anteriorly within the left lung in image 206 with an SUV of 1.6. No avid adenopathy within the chest. Other than the pulmonary nodules, no avid lesions were seen within the thoracic structures.
Since they are very small in size do I do the Lupron treatment my doctor wants now or wait? My PSA is 20.1 Gone up 1 point in 1 year.

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johnk1944 | @johnk1944 | Dec 20, 2023

14 years so far. I have my prostate removed da Vinci in Oct 2009 my 65 birthday after Gleason 7 but my PSA never went down started lupron like shots since on Dec 2009. I did try to stop once but PSA went back up after 9 months

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johnk1944 | @johnk1944 | Dec 20, 2023

Addendum. I have become much more healthy losing 45 lb and eating more vegetables and fruits and exercising more -- walking and more recent rowing machine. I think supplements like curcumen and others help ps I am pre diabetic metformin might also have helped also. Note that I had a MACE with 99 PCT blockage in my widomaker artery -- so stent 3 years bago

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 21, 2023
In reply to @johnk1944 "14 years so far. I have my prostate removed da Vinci in Oct 2009 my 65..." + (show)
@johnk1944

14 years so far. I have my prostate removed da Vinci in Oct 2009 my 65 birthday after Gleason 7 but my PSA never went down started lupron like shots since on Dec 2009. I did try to stop once but PSA went back up after 9 months

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Welcome, @johnk1944. Is your PSA remaining low with Lupron? What side effects do you deal with?

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johnk1944 | @johnk1944 | Dec 21, 2023

Nothing too serious lack of stamina so I couldn't do even moderate hikes at Tahoe lack of bladder control have occasional sudden dizzy spells - may not be related to lupron

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narus | @narus | Dec 21, 2023
In reply to @johnk1944 "Nothing too serious lack of stamina so I couldn't do even moderate hikes at Tahoe lack..." + (show)
@johnk1944

Nothing too serious lack of stamina so I couldn't do even moderate hikes at Tahoe lack of bladder control have occasional sudden dizzy spells - may not be related to lupron

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Lupron literally sucks the life out of you. You cannot reduce your testosterone to zero without affecting your quality of life.
I have also had bladder issues after proton radiation. I would be washing the dishes when the urge comes and if I am not in the bathroom in 15 seconds I am going to wet myself.
I have used an external catheter for long drives and it worked well.

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2 replies
q95oldies | @q95oldies | Dec 22, 2023
In reply to @narus "Lupron literally sucks the life out of you. You cannot reduce your testosterone to zero without..." + (show)
@narus

Lupron literally sucks the life out of you. You cannot reduce your testosterone to zero without affecting your quality of life.
I have also had bladder issues after proton radiation. I would be washing the dishes when the urge comes and if I am not in the bathroom in 15 seconds I am going to wet myself.
I have used an external catheter for long drives and it worked well.

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Exactly the same thing here!! My 3 mile walk is now difficult. Endless peeing.
Muscle and joint pain throughout. A general feeling of weirdness. I have to look into that external catheter.

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narus | @narus | Dec 22, 2023
In reply to @narus "Lupron literally sucks the life out of you. You cannot reduce your testosterone to zero without..." + (show)
@narus

Lupron literally sucks the life out of you. You cannot reduce your testosterone to zero without affecting your quality of life.
I have also had bladder issues after proton radiation. I would be washing the dishes when the urge comes and if I am not in the bathroom in 15 seconds I am going to wet myself.
I have used an external catheter for long drives and it worked well.

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Amazon and it is a lot cheaper than endlessly buying Depends.

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bluegill | @bluegill | Jan 14 7:37pm
In reply to @drj "Thanks for your comments. The initial diagnosis was by a urologist of course, a surgeon, but..." + (show)
@drj

Thanks for your comments. The initial diagnosis was by a urologist of course, a surgeon, but you are right: when I chose radiation, I was of course in the hands of a radiation oncologist. The post-radiation follow up includes the radiation oncologist, but now it's primarily a medical oncologist for tracking Lupron treatment which is done quarterly. For the latter, questions in writing and in person re. Lupron length versus effectiveness have always been deflected or elided. My current issue is whether there is significant value to returning to the gym, particularly absent testosterone. How are you dealing these cards?

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Hi

I'm new here, but the gym question really interests me. I was on Lupron for 3 years (Gleason 9, PSA 28, radiation + ADT, I'm 63 years old). Now my PSA is creeping up again, so I may have to go back on Lupron. During Lupron I did light exercise, but no weighlifting. Before cancer I could do 30 pushups. After 3 years of Lupron I could do 6. I also gained 30 pounds around the middle.
But, my last Lupron was in April of '23 and I'm lifting weights like mad 3x a week and I can now do 22 pushups. I plan to try to lift weights 3x per week for the rest of my life (it helps me mentally, too).

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