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

Posted by cliffordk @cliffordk, Sep 19, 2023

If I am on Lupron, can I build muscle strength by working out? I know I cannot build bulk without testosterone and that is okay. I want to regain my strength.
I lost strength and bulk and gained weight while on Lupron.

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@dpcarriere

Classic Lupron after effects. Yes - work out and you should reap the benefits.

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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.

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@solidwater

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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@solidwater

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.

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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.

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@retireddoc

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.

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

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