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Overtreatment of Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Jan 7 7:12am | Replies (38)
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@northoftheborder

@kujhawk1978 wrote "I can say this, six months may be too short, 36 months too long, anyon saying lifetime, no…"

Reminder for anyone reading this out of context: "lifetime, no..." applies to ADT only if the prostate cancer hasn't already metastasised. Once you have metastatic prostate cancer (castrate-sensitive or -resistant), then it's "lifetime, yes..." as far as I've learned so far (or at least, as long as you're in active treatment rather than final palliative care).

But yes, there's good evidence going back over a decade that it's fine to take treatment "holidays" from ADT, for months or sometimes years (until your PSA rises significantly again), for non-metastatic prostate cancer — in consultation with your oncology team, of course (don't just unilaterally decide to stop taking it).

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Replies to "@kujhawk1978 wrote "I can say this, six months may be too short, 36 months too long,..."
ness23456rs | @ness23456rs | Jan 6 3:08pm

Wow. I've scoured the internet, local support groups, and comrades waiting in the IGRT waiting room, and it is astonishing how personal and unique our situations are. And yet I see doctors at my large university hospital trying to fit me into a structured treatment they are not even following. (My next appoint is 2/1/2024, over two months after the end of 28 days of IGRT. I'm paying for my own PSA tests to keep track)
Perhaps there is a lot of CYA? Better to overtreat than risk a death down the road?
And I hope none of their decisions are financially motivated.
It sad to think that way but my localized cancer treatment cost is now over $250,000.
Personally, and thanks to all who contributed here, I will for choose quality of life over (potential) cure and hope nothing like a car accident, stroke, or fall will make the decision moot.
Or a rising PSA score on 2/1/2024 upends my life plans...again.
It has been a pleasure being reassured, warned, and educated by this group and I'll keep watching and learning.
Best wishes to all!

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