Lupron Treatment Duration: How long were you on it?

I did 18 months, the attached chart shows my clinical history. The side affects were mild fatigue, hot flashes, muscle and joint stiffness and genitalia shrinkage. I did not lose my libido. Throughout those 18 months I maintained my "normal" life, exercised, travelled, worked in the garden, walked my dog....I did keep an eye on my weight which rose about 10 pounds despite watching my diet.

There are various studies you can look for, some will say six months when you are ding it in conjunction with SRT, others will say 18 months is just as effective as 24-36. There is intermittent ADT and of course, "lifetime" ADT or at least until you become castrate resistant...

If you decide to stop AFT, consider basing it on response to treatment, as an example, in my case, PSA had dropped to undetectable and stayed there for the 18 months, then, if you do sop, have a plan to actively monitor your PCa and decision criteria about if and when to go back on treatment based on imaging, labs such as PSA which could provide doubling and velocity ties, any other clinical data such as cardiovascular health. I see my urologist every 2-4 months for labs and a quick consult.

You will find a wide variety of decision "triggers" for resuming treatment. Some will say when PSA hits 4, I've seen 10. As always the questions is, if advanced PCa is not curable, what do I gain if I start treatment back up "early? Does it increase my overall survival...again, you'll find studies all over the map. For me, I would want hard clinical data, imaging when PSA hits .5 to 1.0, labs spaced 2-3 months apart showing PSADT and PSAV, then treatment for a specified period, if the results are "favorable," go back off treatment and actively monitor, repeat.

One has to balance quality of life versus quantity, how one reacts to treatment (some experience horrendous SEs from ADT to include depression), the financial toxicity, life expectancy...It may be that we are entering a phase where we can "live" with PCa, like people who have AIDS and Diabetes then die from something else...That decision is yours as to treatment, what, when, for how long.

I chose to be aggressive in the face of aggressive clinical history and data, it has worked, almost four years of no treatment. I am not saying that I'm cured but the time off treatment has been great!

There is no one "right" decision. We must each make our own based on our specific clinical history and personal preferences.

Thank you for your words, si well said. I am just finishing my first year on lupron and have decided thats enough I want my life back. I am high risk gleason 9, but have faith its the right decision for me.

Welcome ednh. Sixty-three is much too soon to have to deal with ED. You're not alone. You may wish to join these discussions:

- Prostate Cancer: sex drive after surgery or other treatments https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sex-drive-after-surgery/
- I've lost all motivation, no sex drive, depressed. Ideas? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/new-to-group-2/
- ED treatments https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ed-treatments/

Did you know that the Urology department at Mayo Clinic in Rochester has a Men's Sexual Health Clinic? Have you sought advice at a specialized clinic?

I had the same Gleason score back in 2007 at the age of 63. was treated with two Lupron shots and 42 radiation treatments. To this day I have endured ED. Tried Viagra, Cialis and all prescription drugs as well as numerous non prescription, including penis injections. Today with a mixture of those drugs I can get about an 85 % erection and can only maintain for a short period with penetration being impossible. Back in 2007 this was the best way to go. For some. Unfortunately for me I fell in that 1-3% category where what can go wrong did. I still have hope for something to work. However, I have two doctor friends who in the past three years used a combination of seeds and minimal radiation treatment. Neither one of them has encountered any ED problems. Good luck to those of you who are dealing with Prostate Cancer.

Hi @visaliajoe, welcome. You're so right that the treatment decisions are yours and that you drive the bus. May I ask what led you to decide against a second Lupron shot?

I must be unusual. I had a Gleason of 9 with not spreading. I had a Lupron shot prior to Barchy treatment. I refuse beam radiation after my first PSA was .o4. I also refused another Lupron shot. My PSA's have all been less then 1. When I refuse the beam radiation my urologist said wise move but was not as happy when I refused the second Lupron shot. But said we will wait and see. I was rushed to have the initial procedure because of my Gleason but after that no pressure. Please, remember you are in control.

You say your PCa is not in the bones, based on what, a scan, if so, would help the folks to know what kind of scan and what did it say, was it found in the pelvic lymph nodes, nothing visceral...

Her's an article which discusses ADT, Lupron, with radiation - https://www.prostatecancer.news/2016/08/adt-and-radiation-for-first-line.html

Glad to help. Please share the answers. Thanks.

Thank you for the reply. I will talk with my Dr as these same questions you raised I have thought about and now it’s time to look for answers.

Glad you asked! Thanks for sharing. And, yes, as I observed in an earlier response, there appears to no "consistent methodology" for determine the length of Lupron treatment post-radiation and/or surgery if originally indicated. Depending upon the individual, the "cure" may be worse than the disease according to your lifestyle requirements and your age.