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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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ddun1953 | @ddun1953 | Jul 2, 2023

I am 70, had my annual physical 7 weeks ago, my PSA had spiked to 6.9 from 4.3. I had the Biopsy, it was cancer and my Gleason was an 8. I had the Cat Scan done and the Bone Scan and no spreading. The Urologist used the term "On the Margin" like sticking to the outside of the basketball. I had my first Lupron jab and I don't like it but if he shuts down the cancer for now, that is good. I am going to have the little bas-ard taken out in 33 days now.
I don't know what Stage this is though. I have had so much sex in my life, it is no big deal but I would like to live a lot longer. I am sure I will get blasted with radiation like a lot I know and it is everyday for 4 months. Do you all know that when they cut through the prostate , cancer inevitably will escape out so I bet I will be on Lupron for some time and kill the little mfers. I think the tell is when they take it out along with two lymph nodes, what these disclose will let me know if I am long or short in this world. Will never be Chemo, it poisons your body and is just not worth it. God be with all of you. Dave

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solidwater | @solidwater | Jul 1, 2023
In reply to @dmadi61 "Hi Frank, My diagnosis was almost exactly the same as yours. Stage 3. Gleason 7 (4+3)...." + (show)
@dmadi61

Hi Frank, My diagnosis was almost exactly the same as yours. Stage 3. Gleason 7 (4+3). PSA was 16. I had high dose Brachytherapy followed by 25 rounds of external beam therapy. I was on Lupron for 2 full years. A shot every 3 months. My last injection was January 30, 2020. I was treated at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and considered a high risk patient. I had all my labs tested every 3 months. Lupron is effective but I hated the side effects. I went to the gym and / or walked as most days. Took lose dose Paxil for the hot flashes - worked well. Did crossword puzzles everyday to try to clear the mental fog. I also was given the book "Androgen Deprivation Therapy" by Richard J. Wassersug PhD which has great info. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions. Hope I can help.

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i am at the 15 month mark, so far the side effects have not really bothered me, yeah there is the little wrap around the middle but as long as I am really conscious of the rest of my body weight it seems like keeping that under control works, the little spare around the middle its more of a nuisance . I do not care about libido at age 76 I am very strong, cyclist , xc skier that is more important than sex at least for me . It was always a mess anyway. So at least I am looking to move on to 24 months than see what happens. Keep track of the PSA always .

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remington | @remington | Dec 16, 2022

Had my third Lupron yesterday to treat my Gleason 8 PC. PSA after the first two doses was undetectable! Great news. Prior to taking round three I spoke with two urologist and both reported two years/ four injections was standard but considering my quality of life issues I could discontinue if I wanted. (Joint pain, weight gain, flacid, fatigue.) However they both responded that the side effects would not go away. Not sure what I would have gained by stopping treatment. One doctor told me two years on Lupron would probably increase my life expectancy by "a few years. The other told me the goal was to increase life expectancy by 10+ years. So I guess we just keep yaking it and live with the side effects.

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scullrower | @scullrower | Dec 16, 2022
In reply to @vjlvpjalways "They continue Lupron after hormone resistance?" + (show)
@vjlvpjalways

They continue Lupron after hormone resistance?

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My understanding is that the cancer becomes active again while getting Lupron because it has developed ways of producing its own testosterone and is less dependent on the testosterone made by the body. Lupron, however, still slows cancer growth to some degree. This is probably an oversimplification but, as a layman, it’s the best I have.

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2 replies
rxharleydude | @rxharleydude | Dec 15, 2022
In reply to @digger "Hi I have metatastic prostate cancer in my ribs, sternum, scapula,have been on hormonal therapy ,6..." + (show)
@digger

Hi I have metatastic prostate cancer in my ribs, sternum, scapula,have been on hormonal therapy ,6 radiation treatments it’s been about a year ,was working great psa .04 in July a new spot was found on my lumbar biopsy found aggressive prostate cancer ,put me on chemo had 5 cycles of chemo at Cleveland Clinic came to Florida for the winter switch to Moffitt Cancer center in Tampa doctor there took me off the chemo I am on my third day of radium 223 Xofigo So far no side effects I have no pain in my bones, during my hormonal therapy I was taking Lupron shot every six months and 4 abritron a day when I started chemo they took me off the abritron I wonder if Xofigo should have been used before chemo go to i u tube put in Xofigo good video in there about it hope this helps

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Thank you very much! I’ll give that YouTube video a look!

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digger | @digger | Dec 15, 2022
In reply to @rxharleydude "For what it’s worth, I was on a ADT for almost 11 years. During that time..." + (show)
@rxharleydude

For what it’s worth, I was on a ADT for almost 11 years. During that time we were never able to get my PSA below 2.0 and periodically it would get up to as high as 10 to 15. About two years ago we added Zytiga (an antiandrogen drug) which helped for a while. Two months ago, I became so tired of having to get injections every three months with Lupron or Eligard, that I decided to have a bilateral orchiectomy. Sadly, my PSA is continuing to rise, up to about 8 now, even with no circulating testosterone, except the little bit that comes from the adrenal glands so I am no longer on ADT, per se. but I am still getting Zytiga. To the best of my knowledge metastatic prostate cancer is not curable so all we can do at this point is try to control it and hope that someday a treatment will come along that can cure it before it takes us down. My oncologist says that prostate cancer cells eventually figure out how to do without testosterone, and/or create their own. Meanwhile, I’m relegated to treatments that will hopefully find and eradicate the existing cancer cells in my body, looking at radium 223, chemo and Pluvecto currently.
My best wishes and prayers go up to all you guys who are struggling with this seemingly never ending battle!

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Hi I have metatastic prostate cancer in my ribs, sternum, scapula,have been on hormonal therapy ,6 radiation treatments it’s been about a year ,was working great psa .04 in July a new spot was found on my lumbar biopsy found aggressive prostate cancer ,put me on chemo had 5 cycles of chemo at Cleveland Clinic came to Florida for the winter switch to Moffitt Cancer center in Tampa doctor there took me off the chemo I am on my third day of radium 223 Xofigo So far no side effects I have no pain in my bones, during my hormonal therapy I was taking Lupron shot every six months and 4 abritron a day when I started chemo they took me off the abritron I wonder if Xofigo should have been used before chemo go to i u tube put in Xofigo good video in there about it hope this helps

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1 reply
vjlvpjalways | @vjlvpjalways | Dec 14, 2022
In reply to @round5 "I never did understand it why Lupron is continued after a person becomes resistant." + (show)
@round5

I never did understand it why Lupron is continued after a person becomes resistant.

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all I can think is is the Lupron is still effective on eliminating testosterone. It’s the cancer that’s changed it’s now feeding on something else.. to give it back the testosterone would be giving it back it’s preferred diet source.. it would have a variety
I was just surprised until I thought about it.. but I really don’t know

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round5 | @round5 | Dec 13, 2022

I never did understand it why Lupron is continued after a person becomes resistant.

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1 reply
vjlvpjalways | @vjlvpjalways | Dec 13, 2022
In reply to @scullrower "I’ve been on Lupron since 2016. My cancer became Hormone Resistant last year (2021). I went..." + (show)
@scullrower

I’ve been on Lupron since 2016. My cancer became Hormone Resistant last year (2021). I went to LA for PSMA PET scan which showed four pelvic lymph nodes with cancer. I underwent 5 SBRT treatments in January of this year (2022). Current PSA is <0.008. I am still getting Lupron shots, two per year, and taking Nubeqa. I will follow this regimen for 12 more months, when I will try to wean off all treatments, carefully watching the PSA for any return of my cancer. Feeling hopeful. I was first diagnosed in 2001. I’m a believer in the new more sensitive scans. Best wishes to all.

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They continue Lupron after hormone resistance?

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1 reply
jap57 | @jap57 | Dec 12, 2022

I have been on Lupron/Eligard since 2015 except for 6 months. I’m not 100% sure of my doctors reasoning as my PSA drops to non detectable, then rises. I have had radiation 4 different times, and taken Zytiga for over 2 years and am now starting chemo. But I always stay on The Lupron shots.

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