Lupron Treatment Duration: How long were you on it?

I think that the term aggressive refers to gleason score ( I am 9 ) and advanced refers to any spread, including a local spread like seminal vehicles, as in my case. So they have advised me that my cancer is Gleason9, aggressive, advanced and castration resistant. I am post surgery, 13 months of ADT and Erleada and presently .01 PSA and 9 testosterone Good luck to all of you

I think the term advanced really just applies to the Gleason Score. My Stage 1 (not spread outside the prostate,) Gleason 8 was considered advanced.
I had my first Lupron injection in Dec '21, #2 in June '22, and #3 in Dec '22. Let's say it was 3 injections over one year. 20 EBR in Feb '22. My first PSA reading 6 months after Lupron #1 was undetectable and has remained so! In fact last week I went for #4 and the doctor felt I didn't need it! In my case the side effects of Lupron have been miserable and having no detectable PSA we called it quits! I'm a happy camper!

I apologize if I wasn't clear, I'm actually still on orgovyx. I was curious as to why they don't give you that as soon as diagnosed to start starving out the cancer while you decide on / wait for treatment. The imaging answer seems the most plausible one.
Thanks!
Mike

I was diagnosed 7 weeks ago, had the Biopsy, both sides, maybe at the margin, Gleason Score is 8 so the protocol is to wait 3 months for surgery as the Biopsy inflames the little bas-ard. CT and Bone Scan said no spreading. Surgery Aug. 3rd. The lead Urologist asked if I wanted the Lupron now. I said YES. I got a 3 month shot of Lupron. It has been a month since the shot. I feel chitty, blurred eyes, very tired, some emotions too. I could feel it really kick me a week ago, now my weiner is smaller, my balls are feeling odd. I am sure I will get 4 months of radiation too after about a month after the surgery and all of this is very hard on a man. When they operate, they will take out some close by lymph nodes but did you all know that when they start cutting, the prostate is like a basketball here for an ex. when they cut, cancer cells get out so I think I will want to be on Lupron for a year or longer to make sure the cancer is starved out. I have a friend who had the surgery 18 years ago and is still on Lupron. He is afraid to stop it now.

Eligard, according to my HCP, is a "newer" form of Lupron. Pretty much the same chemically, if I recall, but better received by the patient. Given my lack of most of the nasties I'd read about with Lupron, I can't disagree.

As to why an ADT was not suggested to you, I can only guess that your case was different than mine. My biopsy showed cancer in 75% of the cores on the left side, and there is a definite history of PC on my dad's side. Because of that, I was deemed "intermediate unfavorable" on my diagnosis, although my PSA was under 10 and my Gleasons were mostly 3+3 with a few 3+4s. So, the full treatment (ADT, HDR, LDR) was suggested, and it apparently has worked so far.

Thanks, that's what I was eluding to but hadn't had any confirmation. Makes sense!

I believe that ADT will reduce PSA and impact PSMA PET scan if started prior to scan.

ADT Orgovyx initiated Jan 6 while simulation calculations for salvage radiation being computed/mapped.
Rad Onc discontinued Orgovyx 7 days later because mapping "failed" and he wanted a repeat PSMA PET scan (1st performed 6 mos prior and before RP).
Testosterone reduced from 437 prior to 41 after only 7 days.
Waited 1 month for repeat PSMA PET (no change from 1st scan); re-started Orgovyx next day; new simulation w/ balloon (joy to the world); and salvage IMRT a month later.

Not sure this is helpful; point being that ADT can skew PSMA PET scan results (I think).

Happy 4th of July to everyone. May we all enjoy today and many more.

This one had me thinkin' (and that's never a good thing)...
I wasn't aware of Eligard, but, between the diagnosis and treatment decision, nothing was done at all. If my doc had said, "while we're figuring this out, we're gonna give you Lupron to help to start the process of starving what cancer you have" I think that would've made sense?

Anybody have any idea why that isn't done? Does it help the diagnostic processes if you leave well enough alone while imaging?
Just curious.

If your doctor knows their stuff, you should get a three-week dose of Casodex (generic Bicalutamide) when you get your first shot. Yes, Lupron or Eligard tends to increase your testosterone when first taken before lowering it. The Casodex pill, taken daily, is an immediate ADT which counteracts this tendency. When I got the Eligard/Bicalutamide combo last December, I was confused by this dichotomy, but the doctor explained it to me pretty much as I noted above.

In my case, the Eligard shot was used to make sure that the cancer wouldn't spread before I started radiation. Further tests (CT scan, bone scan, MRI) showed that the cancer had not spread beyond the prostate, so no further ADT is required.

I was on Lupron and Erleada for 13 months and RP in 6 th month. The meds were noticed and not liked but they were manageable and I think that they helped me. It was my UCLA doctors recommendation and I would do it again. If the PC returns I probably will do it again at that time.