Hello fellow travelers. I am 78 years old and dx in 2001 with PSA of 8. Don’t remember my Gleason score. Had external beam radiation that failed and have been on Lupron for about 15 years. My question to those who have opted for Ochiectomy, what is the advantages and would you do it again.
Thanks for your candor
Olman
To Olman , your story is amazing. I pray that many can have your success. I’m 57 ,dx 2015, RT and did orchiectomy 9-16. Had some emotions after but truthfully it has empowered me as takeing part in my own health. Time will tell if it was right. I’m on Tak- adt test drug 4pills a day until failure.. but happy not to see Dr every three months for life.for shots.... so yes , I’d do it again. I’m the proponent of this simple alternative procedure to chop the source out instead of constantly pouring more pharma poison thru my kidnies . The mere thought of chop chop sends fear into the heart of most men. To me , it is a practical ,partial solution, in a life spent in PC survival mode.. Whatever it takes to keep trucking.. different strokes for different folks.. what is your current PSA? 15 yrs on Lupron. Wow!
Thanks for your reply Lulu700. My last shot was 2/20/18 and PSA was at 5.7. I test every three months and sometimes go six months between shots. Dr would like to see PSA at 10 before getting a shot, but i’m A bit nervous about letting it get that high. I’m going in Ten days for a button TURP to get rid of some scar tissue from radiation so I can pee a little better and maybe not spend half my time dripping. I’ve had a lot of trouble with bleeding from scaring in my colon and urethra. I’m wondering if you saw any lessening of side effects from Lupron after having orchiectomy?
Olman
Still have the same basic sideffects.. because I’m on other adt drug or I believe that the side effects are all do,to no Testasterone and <.04. PSA . I was told early on by my naturalpathic onocologist that most men do not function with out testosterone . My wife chimed in “ That’s him” and I realized at that time ,that this is the simple truth of APC.. Men don’t function without T. I do have an increasingly better feeling of general well,being as time goes on. Don’t know if that’s just normal adjustment as times settles my general,outlook. ? Sure hope you get better.. good luck on the turp, you need to stop that bleeding .
I had the Ochiectomy at age 46. At your age I would think your doctor should recommend Lupron. You seem to be doing OK and surgery should only be used as last resort.
I don’t understand. If you have been on Lupron for 14 years why are you now considering an orchiectomy? That is a decision that is generally made before starting Lupron.
Hi Raymonda,
When you have lived over one fifth of your life with the side effects of Lupron you tend to look for some relief, no matter how small. You ask why now, well, because it wasn’t an option offered at that time by my health provider.
Cheers!
My dad is trying to make this decision right now. He was just diagnosed and this is the first decision being made. Seeing all the side effects of ADT is pretty scary and our thought is one and done. He is going for a second opinion at Mayo next week so maybe they will have a different opinion then his oncologist here.
Please get back to us with what Mayo says..
I was diagnosed in 1999 at age 59. External radiation then seeds. Recurrent in 2011 and have been on intermittent lupron since (1 yr on, 1 off) so far so good. I also did not enjoy the side effects. Last year i was in a clinical trial for Estradoil Cream applied daily. It kept my psa below 0, and T down to 0. Side effects seemed better. I have been off since Dec and will seemy oncologist May 1 to see where i am now. When it is time to start treatment i am going ever makes it to market i will jump on that. Good luck.
Choose your surgeon carefully. The guy we went to said it was a simple surgery but it hasn't been for my husband.
He started bleeding 10 days after the surgery and they called yesterday saying he has a urinary tract infection. They told him to sit with his feet up which interferes with his aggressive walking routine. It appears the surgery after effects will also interfere with our summer travel plans. We weren't warned about the potential problems of this supposedly routine procedure.
Sorry for the complications. Anti biotics should rid the UTI. I didn’t have those problems. Do you really think the surgeon is at fault?
"Simple surgery" is what most of them say. Regrettably, they do not know how to effectively perform that "simple surgery". Yes, I agree, choose your "surgeon" very very carefully.
The surgeon keeps apologizing but the cut is still oozing. It seems something isn’t sewn up right inside. Husband doesn’t really want to be cut open again. We ar3 going in again Monday.
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