Eligard: What symptoms can I expect?

Posted by pbgentile @pbgentile, Aug 20 8:39am

Good morning folks. I had prostate cancer 23 years ago and had it removed. PSA was zero for about 6 years, then started going up. Had radiation treatment that brought the PSA down to zero. In 2019 took a PSA test that showed below 1, then it started moving up slowly for a couple years and I saw my urologist who monitored it. This past summer it moved up almost a full point (still below 4) so he prescribed and Eligard injection. Aside from the hot flashes and sweats what else can anyone suggest I should expect?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 20 9:10am

Hello @pbgentile, While you wait for members with experience to respond, I thought you might like to scan through discussions and comments by members on Eligard - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=Eligard/.

When do you start your Eligard injections?

pbgentile | @pbgentile | Aug 20 9:21am

I had the first injection on July 2, 2024. Haven't been able to open any of the other discussions about it.

pbgentile | @pbgentile | Aug 20 9:22am

Oh pardon my lack of friendliness. Hello John, I am Paul. Thanks for the response!

ecurb | @ecurb | Aug 20 10:09am

Consider a PSMA PET scan- that’s all I can think of.

pbgentile | @pbgentile | Aug 20 10:37am

In reply to @ecurb "Consider a PSMA PET scan- that’s all I can think of." + (show)

Had one. It told a bunch of things about my heart, lungs, old broken bones but nothing about cancer.

pbgentile | @pbgentile | Aug 20 10:38am

In reply to @ecurb "Consider a PSMA PET scan- that’s all I can think of." + (show)

Thanks for the suggestion.

tuckerp | @tuckerp | Aug 20 10:39am

More of a question than help. I had LARP almost 5 years ago. My PSA has been zero. I had a PSMA PET scan 2 years ago. You got a pretty good run at it with 23 years. My Post op report showed one small lesion with clean margins gleason 3+3. I was wondering what your post op surgical report showed? Also did you have the PET scan? I was hoping I was done with it.

pbgentile | @pbgentile | Aug 20 10:47am

Post-op report showed nothing, PSA was zero.
I had the Pet Scan which didn't help with the prostate cancer but got me to a cardiologist who had me take a nuclear stress test and encephalocardiogram (spelling?) both of which came back fine. By the way, the tests cost $35,000, good thing I have insurance.

tuckerp | @tuckerp | Aug 20 10:55am

In reply to @pbgentile "Post-op report showed nothing, PSA was zero. I had the Pet Scan which didn't help with..." + (show)

well I of course was hoping for better answer. If I get 23 years I would be early 90's. That probably works. Yes I was on Medicare with a supplement. so I didnt have any costs. My cancer was early stage and the Dr. suggested an ultrasound treatment. That was not approved by Medicare. My cost was $15k. I had already decided on removal being the best bet for me.

jehjeh | @jehjeh | Aug 20 12:41pm

My hubby has been getting eligard injections every 3 months for a year now. Hot flashes have lessened but we keep a fan near the bed with a switch on the nightstand so it can be easily turned off and on in the night.

Breast tissue has enlarged but stabilized. Looks less like female breast's and more like fat.

He is more emotional these days. He always had a tender heart and cried at the loss of pets. But the tears flow more freely these days. When he's happy, sad, frustrated... Some of this may be related to dementia so I'm not sure if the eligard is the culprit. I read that it can be one side effect but suspect the combination plays a role here.

On a positive note, his psa has remained near zero right from the first injection. (Started at 44) Side effects have been minor considering how well it's working.

Hopefully you will have the great results we're seeing here!