Why no Lupron in hospital?

[DadHasProsateCancer]

Hi all, my 68 year old father was just diagnosed with high grade stage 4 prostate cancer. He's currently in the hospital and needs to start the Lupron injection but for some reason the hospital can't administer it. Ugh!!! Any idea why they can't and any way to get around this and get it to him? Thank you in advance. This is so hard. He was perfectly healthy 4 months ago and I'm so worried he's going downhill so fast.

[noirhole]

Ask them to administer degarelix acetate or firmagon. It will do the same thing.

[Tall_Allen]

Did you ask them why they can't? There are similar medications like Eligard or Zoladex.

[ctarleton]

You might ask them if they are/will be giving him some Casodex (bicalutamide) in pill form for a little while first, to prevent a "testosterone flare", before giving him his first Lupron injection, shortly thereafter. A "one - two" start-up on initial Androgen Deprivation Therapy like that is pretty common.

Charles

[RalphieJr64]

I know it's horribly scary to receive such news. I don't know your Father's entire situation. But sometimes Lupron injections are on hold upon your insurance approval. Let us know the whole story.

Ralph

[Shooter1]

Casodex in pill has now been shown to be a better start and may be easier to get in hosp.

Good luck and keep us updated please.

Doug=AZ

[DadHasProsateCancer]

Hi everyone. Thank you for replying. He started Casodex last Monday and the hospital is giving him that. This coming Monday is when he is supposed to start the Lupron. He was perfectly healthy in Feb this year. He went to urologist because he couldn't urinate. The urologist did some new procedure called a Urolift which should have never been done!. April he went into kidney failure due to blockage from his enlarged prostate and that is when they started running tests. May 21 we found out he has stage 4 prostate cancer and has spread to his bones, lymph nodes, spine and lung. He fell this past Tuesday because he was so weak and ambulance took him to the hospital. Found out today he has compression fractures in his back from the cancer. It's like a tornado - everything so fast and out of nowhere. :(((

[vandy69]

Good Sunday Morning,

Based on the info on your Dad, it is time to move away from his Urologist to a Medical Oncologist who specializes in prostate cancer, preferable one affiliated with a University cancer center.

There are many treatment paths available and with aggressive disease you have to have aggressive treatment.

I have been in this battle for almost six years (please see bio for complete treatment history).

Quality of care matters.

Best wishes. Never Give In.

Mark, Atlanta

[Hidden]

I'm guessing that they don't have any on hand. It isn't cheap and, in my case at least, it required the blessing of the insurance company to get it. They were dragging their feet and I had to get on the phone and demand that they do the right thing and approve it. It was several weeks between Urologist request for approval and me receiving the six month injection. I demanded that the Urologist write a prescription for casodex while I waited for the eligard to show up.

[Hidden]

I wish your Dad the best in fighting this bastard. However, there is no way that he was perfectly healthy in February given Stage 4 and compression fractures due to metastatic lesions. I personally would have a concern that his Urologist had no idea.

Gourd Dancer

[DadHasProsateCancer in reply to Hidden]

I totally agree! His urologist in February did not do his "job" and my Dad switched urologists in April when he went into kidney failure. The new urologist is the one who ordered all of the tests which led to the cancer diagnosis.

[Lombardi24]

How about getting his oncologist involved?

[DadHasProsateCancer]

Hi all. Thanks again for the replies. I failed to add he has been seeing an oncologist for 1 week. She (the oncologist) prescribed the Casodex and Lupron. I did more digging and it seems to comes down to the fact that Lupron is expensive for the hospitals and rehab facilities so they don't do it - it has to do with the facility's agreement with insurance/Medicare and they end up losing money even though it's the best interest for their patient. I don't want to get into a political so please avoid those comments. I'm just trying to get my Dad the meds he needs.

[Boywonder56]

Any urologist can administer lupron....mine does for 500.00 cash....i have no insurance.....

[Jimhoy]

Why is he hospitalized??

I know how agrivating the hospital system has become (at least in southern New England) where your doctor is not allowed in the hospital. You see DIFFERENT “hospital” doctors daily. Start from scratch every time!!!

[51na1a]

Such is our "efficient" Health Care Sysrem.

question is: Why isn't your Dr allowed. He/she knows more about you and medical history.