No testosterone on Lupron, can I build muscle strength by working out?

Classic lupron ae's yeah, nice ! They did not tell me about that when I started it all. If so I certainly would have sought out a more modern treatment, it does not pay to let a cancer doc in a one horse town treat you. I am stuck, into it for two years of lupron, radiation etc Undetectable psa for almost two years now, They want me to do a third year of lupron , am not so sure about that but you can always stop the shots , at least get them in 3 month intervals .
I am 77 and really do not care about libido , sex ,,ha ! I think life is must easier without it. But exercise is another story , I do gym 5 times a week, machines, some free weight and about 25 minutes on the stationary bikes . the cardio is important for me as a cyclist. As long as I can ride it is good. What can we do except keep up with our shadow.

Solidwater, here's the thing. The Lupron stopped your testosterone from adding fuel to the cancer fire. Let's look at it this way. When your testosterone stopped it tends to curb the cancers appetite and the cancer slows to a crawl. Then the docs treat it. If your doctors are sure they have dealt with the cancer then ask them why is Lupron necessary any more?? My doc stopped my Lupron about a year ago and my cancer was a Gleason 10. If your psa is undetectable that's what it's all about. Look the doc straight in the eye and ask what-the-hell?? The decision is yours and yours alone. Ask the questions, what are the numbers, and get yes or no answers.

thanks ! yes those explanations do read between the lines. I am puzzled why there has to be a third year of lupron. I cannot think of any reason to stretch it out What the lupron can do is provide a stable metric for the PSA, so we knew where it is all at. My opinion . Is that too simple because I can't think of a good reason to continue a third year of it. It is wearing me down, sapping my remaining strength . I appreciate your perception.

I had never worked out in a gym or at home with weights, full body exercises, core/balance, nothing, when I hired a personal trainer in April 22 a few months before I would be going on ADT (Orgovyx + Zytiga). I dropped 20 lbs before starting on ADT and even after I've been on it have continued to lose another 20. While I haven't added any muscle bulk there's no doubt I've become stronger. Lot of things I can do now 20 months into ADT that I could not when I started training. Not sure how that's possible without any T but it's very noticeable.

Current thinking is intermittent Lupron therapy is as good (better?) than continuous. If you stop your Lupron now and follow your PSA, you can always start down the road. Also, intermittent therapy may help delay the cancer becoming castrate resistant.

I found it interesting that high doses of testosterone kill castrate resistant Prostate Cancer.

hbp,
I am also Gleason 9. I had SBRT 5 session treatment at UCLA by Amar Kishan April 1 - April 18, 2024. Orgovyx for 12 months. Stopped almost 3 months ago. My PSA was 0.02 and Testosterone was 45 on May 15,2025. My oncologist at UCLA is Dr Mathew Rettig.
Can you tell me who is your doctor and nutritionist at UCLA?
Thank You

Ava11. I am in the end stage of an Erleada clinical trial and Robert Reiter MD is the clinical trial director and I see him or others that he directs me to. My primarily and surgeon is Nick Donin who I now see every 6 months. I don’t have an oncologist and my treatment started 41 months ago with Erleada for one year and surgery. My PSA is still undetectable and I am thankful for that.

HBP,
Thank you for the information. Dr. Donin is also a Urologic oncologist. I think you are in good hands!
Why did they start you with Erleada instead of Lupron or Orgovyx?
I will be 90 in September this year. I had biopsy on March 5, 2024 when I was 88. My urologist at UCI suggested RT is best choice for me who has done RP 2,000 times!
My main problem is fatigue. I was vegan until few weeks ago. Now I started eating Samon couple of times a week to see if it helps with my fatigue.
what is your diet like? How much protein you get each day?

actually, they started me on lupron and Erleada for 6 months, then surgery, then 6 more months of lupron and Erleada and that start 41 months ago and since then PSA undetectable Me G 9, locally advanced, incurable aggressive and 78 years old.
Dr Donin disappointed me as an oncologist as he should have recommended a gestudy and suggested a plant diet which he did not do. I am on a plant diet but I do eat chicken and fish
Good luck to us all.