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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@thomaswmartin

Thank you. Interesting. I had Gleason 9 psa 22. Staged 3C. Prostate too large to remove. Had radiation and then chemo (taxotere). Been on lupron for approx 1 yr. Completed radiation and then chemo 7 mos ago. They’re telling me I need to stay on lupron for life. I don’t like the effects…libido obvious but also tiredness, trouble focusing and some leg and balance issues. I still run my business and blessed with energy at 78 to fight this. They said it metastasized but not in tissue, organ, bone or lymph nodes per scans. This is also my 2nd cancer bout. Throat cancer 13 yrs ago stage 4.

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I’ve been on Lupron since 2016. My understanding is that any treatment, including Lupron, is guided by the PSA and the findings of good scans.

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@ken1946

I was on Lupron for two-full years. Also had RP and radiation treatments. I have been off of it for over a year. I am waiting for the erections to come back. I was assured that they would once I stopped the Lupron injections.

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Testosterone is the fertilizer for prostate cancer You have 10 fingers and a tongue so live and forget about erections

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@melcanada

Testosterone is the fertilizer for prostate cancer You have 10 fingers and a tongue so live and forget about erections

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I could not have said it better!

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@scullrower

I’ve been on Lupron since 2016. My understanding is that any treatment, including Lupron, is guided by the PSA and the findings of good scans.

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I had Lupron, on and off, depending on testosterone and PSA, from 2006 to 2021. Now it’s every 6 months.

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@yell0wsub

I had Lupron, on and off, depending on testosterone and PSA, from 2006 to 2021. Now it’s every 6 months.

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According to seers.gov.ca we have 30% chance of 5 years

Your thoughts

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@melcanada

According to seers.gov.ca we have 30% chance of 5 years

Your thoughts

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I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer 11 years ago, had a total prostatectomy and was put on intermittent Lupron therapy. After about five years, they had to put me on standard every three month Lupron therapy. Two years ago as my PSA was becoming higher and higher they added an anti-androgen agent, abiraterone. So far that has been keeping my PSA under control. However, there are signs that we may have to look at additional therapy going forward. FYI, I am 83 years old and in reasonably good physical shape aside from the cancer. I ride my bicycle 6-8 miles and work in my yard every day
Thank you, Lord!

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@rxharleydude

I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer 11 years ago, had a total prostatectomy and was put on intermittent Lupron therapy. After about five years, they had to put me on standard every three month Lupron therapy. Two years ago as my PSA was becoming higher and higher they added an anti-androgen agent, abiraterone. So far that has been keeping my PSA under control. However, there are signs that we may have to look at additional therapy going forward. FYI, I am 83 years old and in reasonably good physical shape aside from the cancer. I ride my bicycle 6-8 miles and work in my yard every day
Thank you, Lord!

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You are a wonderful testament to the advances they are making in keeping prostate cancer under control. Thank you for sharing and may you continue to do well.

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@melcanada

According to seers.gov.ca we have 30% chance of 5 years

Your thoughts

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Its for original cancer Local Regional Distant or upstaged COPY These numbers apply only to the stage of the cancer when it is first diagnosed. They do not apply later on if the cancer grows, spreads, or comes back after treatment.
These numbers don’t take everything into account. Survival rates are grouped based on how far the cancer has spread, but your age and overall health, test results such as the PSA level and Grade Group of the cancer, how well the cancer responds to treatment, and other factors can also affect your outlook.
Men now being diagnosed with prostate cancer may have a better outlook than these numbers show. Treatments improve over time, and these numbers are based on men who were diagnosed and treated at least five years earlier.

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I do that now (ten fingers and tongue) and it is a good comment and fun to do. However, I still want that old feeling once again. I also worry about young men who are considering trans surgery. They are being told that Lupron effects are reversible. I believe that is incorrect.

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@rxharleydude

I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer 11 years ago, had a total prostatectomy and was put on intermittent Lupron therapy. After about five years, they had to put me on standard every three month Lupron therapy. Two years ago as my PSA was becoming higher and higher they added an anti-androgen agent, abiraterone. So far that has been keeping my PSA under control. However, there are signs that we may have to look at additional therapy going forward. FYI, I am 83 years old and in reasonably good physical shape aside from the cancer. I ride my bicycle 6-8 miles and work in my yard every day
Thank you, Lord!

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Thanks for this So you were castrate sensitive versus resistive to ADT Mine went after 4 years to L2 lumbar at 77 years so its regional my doc son says Where did yours met to? I had my L2 nuked taking out 1 inch of prostate cancer
I am 78 now and feet great on Zolodex every 3 months injection Oncologists says no new drugs unless you go resistive which will eventually happen he says Its been almost 2 years since L2 nuked and 6 since original radiation on prostate Survival as regional is 99% they say on cancer.org

COPY These numbers apply only to the stage of the cancer when it is first diagnosed. They do not apply later on if the cancer grows, spreads, or comes back after treatment.
These numbers don’t take everything into account. Survival rates are grouped based on how far the cancer has spread, but your age and overall health, test results such as the PSA level and Grade Group of the cancer, how well the cancer responds to treatment, and other factors can also affect your outlook.
Men now being diagnosed with prostate cancer may have a better outlook than these numbers show. Treatments improve over time, and these numbers are based on men who were diagnosed and treated at least five years earlier.

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