ADT fatigue- How bad can it get for some men?

Yep, been there, done that. Still doing it. It sounds counterintuitive but the only way I've been able to combat the severe fatigue is exercise. Really doesn't have to be that much. A mile walk or 10 or 15 minutes of resistance training (I use resistance bands) usually snaps me out of it. I was just told by the doc that I will be on ADT for the rest of my life so no choice but to figure out a way to combat it. Some days my legs feel like they weigh 300 lbs. each but no choice but to fight through it. Not ready to go fetal yet. Give it a try.

@mjp0512 Has really got the right idea. Exercise exercise exercise, It seems counterproductive, but it works for almost everyone. If you can run, do that. I walk a mile twice a day as fast as I can go. Also go to the gym three days a week in order to keep my muscles working. I’ve always been very active, Never had a fatigue problem.

yes, ADT /radiation fatigue is real and you have to play thru it..I mean make yourself get up and get moving. And of course that is not easy..but you have to..because once you are moving and mind is focused on activity, then you forget the fatigue. Also, sleep really doesnt help much so you just play thru it.

THIS is fatigue thing is one of the hardest things I have had to deal with and over come..and it comes back around periodically to test me...PC is a test of sorts. You find out what is inside you-how bad do you want to live and meet the challenges..emotional and physical.you can lay up and cry and bemoan or you can say fuck it, I am gonna go take a bike ride, walk swim etc..and keep on living...good luck !

Yes, testosterone levels that low can result in the level of fatigue that you’re experiencing. (Think ‘Superman’ and ‘Kryptonite.’)

I might’ve said “been there, done that,” but my medical oncologist advised me prior to my first hormone therapy injection to engage in a robust resistance-training exercise regimen. Fortunately, already being a gym rat, that was very easy to do. I avoided most of the debilitating side-effects and did not experience any fatigue.

Here is a short PCRI presentation from 5 years ago with Drs. Scholz and Moyad talking about exercise and hormone therapy: https://m.youtube.com/watch

Incorporating a resistance-training exercise program is a necessary part of the routine to minimize the potential physical/mental side-effects of hormone therapy.

(At 65y, with a localized, Gleason 7(4+3), PSA of 7.976, I had 28 fractions of proton radiation + 6 months (two 3-month injections) of Eligard. That was 5+ years ago. Testosterone went as low as 3.0; PSA went to <0.008. My most recent PSA was 0.366.)

The risk of repetition is a ship that's already sailed here, but it REALLY bears repeating: exercise. I saw a comment here, weeks ago, that might help: a poster said their most productive "exercise" was the "push-away" (as in, from a chair). Everything gets easier from there. But it's not all work. Fatigue is a problem that's only partially solved by pushing through it. The other critical part is productive rest. Along with the exercise, get as much rest as you want, knowing that you've earned it and don't have to feel sad about needing it. It's fuel.

Today was the Best I’ve seen so far.
Salute you all for kicking in for the rest of us.

What everyone else has said it true--exercise does really help. I also found a SHORT nap mid afternoon for the month after radiation treatment was also helpful--no more than 30-40 minutes.

Amen: Exercise as much as you can. As mentioned, there are physical as well as mental benefits even for normal folks. It's been 3 months since my last radiation therapy session and Lupron depot insertion. My PSA from 2 weeks ago was 0.05 and my Testosterone was 10 from 28, 3 months prior. I also had a big drop in my hemoglobin from 14 to 11, 3 months into the ADT regimen and had gained abdominal fat. Since 2020 and all through the 5 1/2 weeks of radiation and 7 months of ADT, I had a daily routine of brisk walking for 30-40 minutes (bad knees from 54 years of karate stances and kicking) followed by 40-50 minutes of karate basics and formal karate exercises (kata). This had allowed me to avoid a lot of the side effects but I'm finding that even if I didn't have a loss of strength, my stamina is affected. I'm seeing my oncology and radiation doctors next week and I'm going to ask about my low T. I'm hoping that they will not say that it is normal for a 71-year old.

Everyone here agrees that exercise is the key to fighting fatigue, weird, huh? I was only diagnosed with PCa the end of April, and I just finished my first bottle of Orgovyx (17 more months to go) and I don't start radiation until August 17th, so I have less knowledge that almost everyone here who has posted. However, what I have learned so far from every source I've looked at is that exercise; aerobic, weight loading and resistance is essential to fight not only fatigue, but also bone density loss, muscle loss, improve radiation efficiency and also improve mood. I've joined a gym, I'm working with a personal trainer for a couple of months since I haven't exactly been a gym rat for 30+ years, and walking or lifting weights 5-6 days a week. Find exercise and prostate cancer videos on YouTube, look for the PCRI channel and Dr Scholz, Dr Moyad and Dr Robert Newton. I have also found Dr Newton's book "My Exercise Medicine for Cancer" to be invaluable. You can buy it on Amazon. Good luck.

@mjp0512
I can only reiterate what others have posted about ADT side effects. I just continued the exercise I was doing before I had 42 x radiotherapy and 2 years of ADT. But, I think I was fortunate and dodged some of the side effects. However, there were times when needed to dig in bit but didn't suffer because of that. In any event it's always a good thing to listen to your body. Good luck, you deserve to get through this.