Lupron shot for life?

[Cynthgob]

I have read posts about limiting Lupron shots to just six months. We are in a clinical trial and lupron is standard of care. There is no talk about taking him off the shot. Are most of you on this shot? What can we do to preserve joints if that’s what we have to worry about?? Diagnosed aug 2017 so new to this.

[Hidden]

I have been on Lupron continuously for 3.5 years. I have been told I will be using Lupron for the rest of my life.

[Shooter1]

I also was told Lupron for life. Orchidectomy scheduled for tomorrow AM. Off Lupron for rest of life.

Doug

[softwaremom00]

My husband is on Lupron and expects to be on it forever unless/until he gets an Orcheictomy.

He gets his Lupron shot every six months.

Exercise can really help with bones.. not sure if it helps with joints. Something like walking or running may help reduce osteoporosis. Weight lifiting ...even 5lb weights can help keep from losing muscle mass. My son makes my husband weight lift a couple of times every week...

Also eat a healthy diet..tons of fruit and vegetables. Cut out processed food.

My dad also had prostate cancer and he took the various drugs that are supposed to help with incontinence. They ended up ruining his teeth and not helping much with his incontinence. I would be cautious with those drugs.

Good Luck!!

Softwaremom

[Tall_Allen]

You may be reading posts by men in different situations. Lupron is given for different reasons. In men receiving radiation therapy, it is sometimes given ADJUVANT to radiation to help it work better. In those cases, it is only given for a limited period of time needed to cure the man.

When Lupron is given for advanced prostate cancer, it is given for life. Some men get INTERMITTENT doses (getting periodic vacations from it); others get it continuously.

It is not joints so much as bone density. Testosterone is needed to maintain good bone density. Lacking testosterone, bone density can be maintained using certain medicines (like bisphosphonates) and with weight-bearing exercise. Exercise also helps maintain lean muscle mass and prevent fat accumulation. Other than loss of libido, hot flashes are the most common side effect. They can be controlled with acupuncture, estrogen patches, megace patches, or with anti-depressants.

[Litlerny]

As Tall_Allen said, it’s not the joints, but the bone density that’s a potential problem with long term ADT. I’ve been on Lupron or Eligard and bicalutamide continuously for 3 years. It has kept my PSA undetectable, and my testosterone at 7-8, all along, including yesterday when I went back up to the Mayo in Jax for my regular oncologist follow-up and lab work. I expect to be on it for life. I have also recently done 6 cycles of docetaxel. I have been taking Prosteon for my bones for 3 years. I go back to the Mayo in Jax for my next shot of Eligard in July. My oncologist also ordered a bone density test on that visit just as a precaution, since I have been doing the ADT for 3 years. If it doesn’t show any signs of osteoporosis, I’m good to go. If it does, he may start me on Xgeva (one of the bisphoshphonates). So far, so good. God 🙏 is great. Life is good 😎. And my golf game continues to suck. 🏌️⛳️

[j-o-h-n in reply to Litlerny]

Do you know the story about God playing Moses a round of golf?

If you're very religious you might be offended.

But it's only Humor!!!

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 05/01/2018 6:02 PM EDT

[Litlerny in reply to j-o-h-n]

Is it the one with the punchline “I hate playing with you, Dad.”?

I can’t remember all the details of it, but it involves Moses being one upped by Jesus, who in turn gets one upped by God the Father.

[j-o-h-n in reply to Litlerny]

It maybe, but does it have to with God's slicing the ball and it hits a tree, and involves a rabbit, a goldfish and a gopher?

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 05/01/2018 7:57 PM EDT

[Litlerny in reply to j-o-h-n]

No, but it sounds like a variation on that. I think this one involves a frog and an eagle, and God gets a hole in one. 😎

[j-o-h-n in reply to Litlerny]

Bingo!

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 05/01/2018 11:18 PM EDT

[Tak-Druk]

3.5 years and running... starting to think maybe I should get an orchiectomy too... I considered intermittent therapy, read about it, discussed it with my doctor; but in the end, I tolerate lupron pretty well and it sounds like the jury is still out on the benefit/risk of intermittent Lupron.

[Hidden]

Each one of us are different in how this bastard of a disease attacks. Fortunately I am atypical from most. I took my first Lupron injection on May 8, 2004 for two mets to my spinal column and my last injection on February 11, 2010. Every three months an injection, either Lupron or Eligard.....

At this point in life, I have my PSA and T, plus a host of other markers, checked every four months. Since January 11, 2012, low dose testosterone replacement therapy treatment was added. I take no other prescription nor over the counter drugs. Zero supplements. I maintain a <0.1 PSA and 300 to 650 T. Testisterone fluctuations depend on which day I apply the 4 mgs of Androgel and draw blood.

To adapt an old Texas expression, it matters not if one draws a white bean or black bean, cultivation determines whether it is just a bean.

Good Luck and Prayers,

Gourd Dancer

[JimVanHorn]

I have been on Lupron (Eligard- the generic) for 7 years, every 3 months. My PSA has been 0.00 for all 7 years. I took Casodex for 6 weeks and have had 72 radiations. An Orcheictomy would still allow androgens to be released by the from the adrenal medulla. The point of Lupron is that it stops the reproduction of prostate cells both normal and cancerous cells. When you stop using Lupron the cells start to multiply again, which causes the PSA to increase. Lupron does not kill cancer cells. I started Lupron when I was diagnosed Stage 4 with metastatic cancer to the bones. Maybe your husband is Stage 1. Keep us in touch with his progress.

[Cynthgob in reply to JimVanHorn]

Stage 4. So thank you for the good information

[JimVanHorn in reply to Cynthgob]

My Gleason score was 4+3=7, I am 72 years old, I also have a bad heart, Diabetes, and poor kidneys. Each of us have different forms of cancer, in different places, different doctors with different insurances, and other diseases. So you must decide what therapy to use. Usually a second opinion is helpful.

It turns out that prostate cells both cancerous and normal have a spot called the androgen receptor (AR). When androgens (like testosterone) are present the cell begins to multiply. Without androgens, the cells do not multiply. An enzyme is given out when the cell multiplies called PSA. If the PSA is zero the cells are not multiplying. The cancer is still alive however, but tumors are less likely to form in the body. Some single cells leak into the body and attach to long bones. Usually they sink into the bone and can weaken the bone tissue. Osteoporosis drugs help that problem. SO that is why I have been on Lupron (Eligard - the generic) for 7 years. SO now you understand that Lupron does not kill cancer cells. Have a great night.

[yamobedeh]

I started on Lupron 3 month when I was Dx a year ago. I am one of that small percentage who has a severe allergic reaction to it: hives, itchy skin all over, couldn't stop scratching myself bloody. Switched to Zoladex for 90 days.....same thing. Switched to Telstar on a PCa bud's advice and it's 95% better. My bone density at 6 months on Lupron was OK for osteo- issues (good Eastern European bone density) I'll check it again soon and see if that's changed. I agree with others here: no joint issues that I know of related to LHRH shots (Lupron etc) The issues I have, being on ADT triple blockade are the weight gain, muscle loss, tremendous fatigue, anemia, and perhaps most angering, the cognitive FX, i.e., clumsiness, memory issues, etc. I expect there will come a time when I must choose quality of life over other issues. Best regards and best of luck with this bastard of a disease.

[jimhagood]

Prolia injections twice per year. to fend off osteoporosis caused by long term ADT.

[Beermaker]

Similar to many of the men who have posted above, I have been on ADT, then off, then back on for the past 6.5 years. (My vacation was a terrible and useless failure.) I moved to FL and my new urologist had one major piece of advice - don't change a thing until this head south. ADT is tiring and tiresome. I hate it. But it really does beat the alternative. Until they have a better solution, I am on it for life. Best to you and yours as you go down this path.

[Olman]

Just to prove your husband can do it, I’m into my sixteenth year of Lupron.

Not pleasant, but better than the alternative. Expect hot flashes, weight gain, fatigue and in my case mood swings along with other unpleasant side effects. Remain positive, is better than the alternative.👍

[j-o-h-n]

One of my major concerns is that I'm afraid I'm developing phobias.

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 05/01/2018 6:19 PM EDT