Lupron

[Andrika]

I have such a bad reaction to Lupron. I have no energy. Rode my bike for maybe an hour, had to stop twice I felt so weak..Before would ride for almost 2 hrs without much thoughts. Feel light headed, no desire to do anything even though I have so many things to attend to. I need to find another to deal with this cancer.

[ctarleton]

Sorry to hear you are not feeling well, and are so distressed about it.

What's your diagnosis and treatment history, Andrika?

Do you expect to be on Androgen Deprivation Therapy with Lupron on a temporary basis, or for a long time?

The energy declines are a common side effect of many of the drugs that lower the Testosterone levels low enough to suppress the disease. The very low T level, itself, is usually what causes the changes in peak energy and energy reserves. You might switch to another drug, but still have similar symptoms while on ADT.

After I was first diagnosed as incurable (but manageable) metastatic, most of my doctors have said, "Exercise as much as you can.", or something like that. And "as much as I can" has slowly changed as my months and years on Lupron have continued.

I remember when I was about a year and a half on Lupron at age 67. Went on a trip to Yellowstone National Park and just "ran out of gas" on a 6 mile hike at 7,000 ft. elevation, eventually having to go very slow and to stop frequently. I've now been on Lupron (and more recently Xtandi) for 3 years and 8 months, and I do well to mow my lawns or comfortably walk 2-3 miles at a time without watching my pacing, being careful if it's really hot outside, or stopping sometimes to rest or cool down. Some of it is age. Some of it is Lupron + Xtandi. All of it is my new normal reality, and a far cry from the amount of running and exercising I could do 25 years ago. It is what it is.

What was that Clint Eastwood line from one of his movies?, "A man's got to know his limitations."

youtube.com/watch?v=_VrFV5r...(Not working as expected?)

Charles

[JamesAtlanta]

Sorry you are having the challenged with Lupron. We all do, though I'm sure to varying degrees.

First, keep in mind that Lupron is what keeps us alive. That helps keep the drug in perspective.

I was diagnosed at 53 with metastatic PCa. Been on Lupron for over 2-years. And had 6 rounds of chemo (Stampede study).

Still able to work full time, traveling all over the country, though my energy level is somewhat lower - some just because I'm older.

I changed how I exercise to account for the Lupron. I walk, take a yoga class (who would have thought) and recently bought a Pelaton bike. Riding the bike is not that easy, but I'm finding I can build up my ability to perform, even in spite of the elimination of testosterone. And it is fun!

I guess my point by is that ADT changes everything. We all just need to adjust and go with what works. We are alive. Still able to be part of our family. But the trade off I have found is having to adjust to the 'new normal' that a lot of friends on this site talk about.

We are all pulling for you! And you can take solace in the fact that there are lots of friends here who have done this for a very long time - much longer than me - and been ok. 😊

[Andrika]

Thanks for the advice. Does any of you have looked into the ketogenic to deal with cancer. Dr DeAngelo at U of M has been doing a lot of research on this.

[Hidden]

I wish you a successful fight in kicking this bastard, however stopping Lupron is a sure way to die quicker. Not knowing any particulars, it's still a true statement. Aggressively fight! No walk in the park, but the alternative really sucks

GD

[Hidden]

You might try the 1 month (7.5 mg) Lupron injections rather than the 3 or 4 month version. I found that the first month of the 4 month version resulted in more severe fatigue and hot flashes in the first month after the injection.

Good Luck, Clint

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

The first 15 minutes of my 6 month eligard injection almost landed me in the emergency room. I'm glad my wife was driving me home.