Lupron

[lj1951]

About to get my second round of Lupron don’t know what to expect

[Shooter1]

More of the same only more so. Enjoy the hot flashes. Shrinkage down under, hair loss on body to follow, but worth it as PSA starts to drop..

Good luck

Doug

[noirhole]

Same as the first. Hot flashes and a big bill. That is how it has been for me the last 5 years. Good luck and stay the course.

[Hidden]

No big deal, they have been pumping that stuff in me for 3.5 years non stop. Your life is different, simply adjust and you will be fine.

[John-carp]

Hey

These good people said it best. Doesn’t get easier but somehow I appreciate life more than ever and happier

[Olman]

Going into my 16th year of Lupron. It isn’t pleasant, but better than the alternative. All the above is the norm with Lupron. Happy Hot Flash!

[Emmett50]

Gentlemen, my husband is also about to get 2nd Lupron shot. Are effects cumulative? He is so far not having any noticeable side effects from the first shot. We are both quite surprised but happy that it’s seemed a non-event thus far. In the past year, prior to PCa dx, he was told he had low testosterone. Could the low base level be the cause for no side effects? In other words, he had less T to lose? Which then leads me to puzzle over whether ADT will be effective since he had PSA of 34, Gleason 9, with all cores positive between 40-80%, all happening with a low testosterone level. Thanks to all of you for all I’ve learned from your sharing. Mary

[hadleycash in reply to Emmett50]

Other than the sexual negatives, I have also had no other real problems from Lupron. My testosterone level was also on the low side when I started it... I think around 280 to 300. I've only gained 5 or six pounds over the past year and a half, no hot flashes whatsoever, same low blood pressure. My psa was under 4 at surgery date, so like you husbands, low. It has always responded rapidly to Lupron. His should too. Always be aggressive in your all's treatment approaches along the way, be on the lookout for promising clinical trials, and get genetic testing done! Be smart... and count every day as a blessing..

[Lombardi24]

Have any of you tried Gabapentin 300mg twice a day. That significantly cut down the amount of hot flashes I have in a day.

[William123Cooper123]

What to expect:

• A surge of confusion and fatigue for a few days after the injection (implant).

• Then a cycle of a week of good, and then a week of bad for the duration: cognitive slowing, tired, and hot flashes.

• Those side-effects for the first two or three years, or so. Not too bad and generally consistent.

• Then in the next years (4, 5, 6, etc.) ... the side-effects become more difficult as they become cumulative (NCCN Prostate Guidelines 2016 and 2027). Very difficult, disabling at times.

• (As more men are being put on Lupron for much longer periods of time which appears to be a new strategy ... especially “Lupron for Life” ... the long-term side-effects are not really understood ... the side-effects can be progressively disabling: draining energy, little endurance, emotional issues, neurological issues, fatigue, etc.)

• Then decision time: a. Deal with the side-effects that can greatly reduce the quality-of-life. (Initial side-effects, and then those from being years on Lupron.) Or b. Stop the treatment with the eventual reoccurring of cancer that won’t controllable, will be more aggressive, pervasive (systemic), and has worse side-effects from the actual cancer.

—————-

We forget that we are fighting to control a very deadly cancer, and it’s not a walk in the park. The long or short fight has to be aggressive which will have side/effects. For many, it’s going to be fighting a slow losing battle, decimating therapies opting for a few more days, weeks, or years with surgery, chemicals, radiation ... all of which eventually fail, with the body (quality of life) suffering a lot of damage in the process.

——————-

The fight against prostate cancer is so complex, so many roads to choose regarding treatment, there appears to be no answer that is a foundation. But “Lupron-for-Life” gives a space of time free from the coming, more aggressive treatments that appear just down the road.

[hadleycash]

I'll chime in with my results from Lupron, as they differ from the norm. I was on it for 6 months in a clinical trial post prostatectomy, along with radiation therapy and Xtandi. At time of surgery my psa was 3.8... so quite low. I was pretty tired during the radiation, but no real hot flashes to speak of. The usual adverse sexual side effects were there, of course, but really nothing else. Went off Lupron after the trial for about 9 months, but psa began rising at third month. PSMA pet scan at 6th months off Lupron revealed source of rising psa, positive retroperitoneal lymph nodes on right side. One month later began Lupron again, with psa at 2.8. A month later had RPLND (retroperitoneal lymph node dissection) surgery. It was major surgery... but now in the past! For the last year and a half I've stayed on Lupron. Have a lower energy level than before, but still relatively high for 65, but comparatively lower. No hot flashes at all for the entire time! A little less mental acuity, still, I am 64, so part might just be I'm getting older... which as a cancer survivor, is great. Since my psa has been undetectable post RPLND surgery, a year and a half, my oncologist and I agreed to drop the Lupron for a while, and follow my psa closely to decide when to go back on. Time will tell! I had a lot of negatives going in to all this! Gleason of 9 and positive surgical margins, psa doubling time whenever not on Lupron has always stayed at ONE MONTH, BRCA 2 positive, and RPLND surgery required for lymph node mets. Given all that... I feel blessed! I just saw my only child finish his first year of college, and appreciate each day of life in a way I never had before!

[Hidden]

After five years on Lupron, I found that the hot flashes were minimal when I got the monthly 7.5mg injections. Good Luck, Clint

[Nicnatno]

I've been on it 14 months and no hot flashes. It does keep the PSA down. I take it every 12 weeks. The main side effect for me is my sexual libido has diminished. My wife truly understands.

Nick

[j-o-h-n]

"About to get my second round of Lupron don’t know what to expect"

Same shit different flies....

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Monday 05/14/2018 1:32 PM EDT