It’s another power surge!

[Fitzbruce1]

Hello guys n gals-

My wife determined that the ladies have the God given rights to the term ‘Hot Flash’. We have named my burning episodes ‘Power Surges’! It is so much more masculine- and with the ADT I am on, I need as much masculINity as I can get- 😬

2 months ago dx with Gleason 4-3, 10.6 PSA w about 20 bone Mets. I still have no real symptoms (other than the Power Surges). I started Lupron, Prednisone n Zytiga 7 weeks ago. I now have a .27 PSA! That result was certainly the brightest spot in the last 2 months.

I paddle board 7 days a week just before sun rise and then I have a short chat w the Big Man as I stand on my board in the middle of the lake as the sun rises over the trees. It is a Sunrise service everyday. It gives me a few moments of clarity to think about being the best husband, Dad and friend that I can be.

My wife and I then juice about 25 carrots, 3 apples, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and ginger. I drink about 3 big glasses of it everyday. Does it help? Who knows but between the new diet n going to the gym 3 days a week, I have lost 10 pounds.

Being relatively new to this new way of life, can someone help me understand what having an undetectable or in my case a .27 PSA really means? Does it mean that the cancer is not growing any more? Btw my T is now 57.

Thanks for being out there boys n girls- this blog and the guys who answered me about 5 weeks ago really helped me deal with the initial shock! However,I kept crying during times that I was telling friends and family about my situation. Not since my high school counselor had I ever sat done w a counselor. But I met a counselor in an infusion room while her Mother and I were both having a bag of curcumin dripped into our veins. 2 weeks later, in her office, I told her that I needed some help because I cried when telling my story to friends n family. After 2 hours and $250, I found out that I, and yes WE, are suppose to cry sometimes. Just saying-...

[JimVanHorn]

Welcome to the club. Lupron lowers your testosterone levels, which make your estrogen become more prominent in the percentage of 70% T to 30% E (estrogen). Any time these hormones change levels in either man or woman, a section of the brain causes hot and cold flashes. Mine went away after 2 years on Lupron. I was on Lupron for 6 and 1/2 years and now the cancer is undetectable. When they stopped Lupron I would get an erection when I urinated. After about 6 weeks of that, I am OK again. These things happen when you fight cancer. Keep truckin'.

[Fitzbruce1 in reply to JimVanHorn]

Thanks Jim. Good to know u are doing so well after 6 years! It surely gives me hope- something I am needing more of! An erection? What is that? Oh yeah - now I remember! The funny thing is that I went to a men’s clinic back in May to start testosterone shots to help keep things going w the wife. After taking the blood test, they told me my PSA was 10.6. Then my world changed! Ironic that I wanted more testosterone and now I need less!

Thanks for the reply. 👍

[arete1105]

You might want to check out Siberian Rhubarb. webmd.com/menopause/news/20...

[Fitzbruce1 in reply to arete1105]

Thanks for the tip. Have u used it?

[arete1105 in reply to Fitzbruce1]

No- I still at the "warm flashes" so far. But it is on the agenda if needed.

[Tall_Allen]

Your PSA is responding well, indicating that the progression of your cancer is being slowed by the treatment. If your T is 57, it is too high - above castration level. You should discuss this with your oncologist. Maybe switching from lupron to Firmagon, or switching from prednisone to dexamethasone will get it lower.

[Fitzbruce1 in reply to Tall_Allen]

My wife corrected me- it is 47. Still on the high side of 50 or 20 depending on the MO (so I have read). Might my T not drop more since it did drop from 320 to 47 in just 7 weeks?

[Tall_Allen in reply to Fitzbruce1]

You can monitor it monthly to see what happens. 50 is castration level but most MOs prefer under 20 if possible.

[Cmdrdata]

Yes “power surge”. Been having this problem since 2010. Am basically on permanent castration because each time it rises, so does PSA. But now it is a new ball game after I became CRPC in 2017. Zytiga seemed to cause power surges too..

[Fitzbruce1 in reply to Cmdrdata]

Yeah- my power surges are quite often but if this is my only side affect on ADT, I am ok with it. Happy trails

[ctarleton]

IV Curcumin? Not a typical thing in the armamentarium of most advanced prostate cancer oncology specialists. Perhaps consider also:

respectfulinsolence.com/201...

Oral dietary curcumin in foods is a different nuance.

I think it's very good that you are communicating and sharing your emotions so well with friends and family. Local face-to-face cancer support groups and prostate cancer support groups are also a good place to share those feelings, too, in my experience. A big old shared "Lupron Hug" reportedly has some intangible medicinal properties, too. Ha. Ha.

Charles

[Fitzbruce1 in reply to ctarleton]

Charles-

I read the report u sent about intravenous curcumin therapy (and death). Yikes.

I need to think about whether I am going to do that again.

I am feeling better after the Lupron Hug!

Thanks for sharing.

[Hidden in reply to Fitzbruce1]

Lupron Hugs are the best.

[Break60]

Circumin capsules gave me nausea.

[j-o-h-n]

to Fitzbruce1: Remember what I said the other day "the more you cry the less you pee"

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 09/25/2018 5:05 PM EDT

[Fitzbruce1 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Good stuff John! Any other sayings u have used on this site!? Did u like Power Surge😬?

[j-o-h-n in reply to Fitzbruce1]

I did like it .... but I wish it was what I use to have "Power Urge".....😬😬😬

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 09/25/2018 8:08 PM EDT

[Fitzbruce1 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Yeah- Sure to miss those urges! Damn Lupron !!