Lupron variations

[herb1]

I'm asking again since I didn't get a response a few weeks ago. My MO has me on 4 mo Lupron shot (30 mg)---since his group became an MDAnderson satellite. Previously, he had me on 3 mo shot. My psa at 4 months is not good (0.4). Anyone care to comment on differences in results between 3 and 4 mo...or between Anderson and other centers?

[Fairwind]

3, 4, 6 month shots, it's all the came.. Some Oncologists and the companies they work for like the 3 month shots because they get better reimbursements that way.. As long as your PSA stays below 2.0 it's working pretty good..When you start to become Hormone Refractory, they will probably add Zitiga or Xtandi and maybe chemo.......Once Mets are detected, your treatment becomes palliative, not curative. At that point, MD Anderson has no cure and you will probably do just as well at your local cancer treatment center..You have to balance the treatment effectiveness against how badly it degrades your quality of life...

[herb1 in reply to Fairwind]

Fairwind, thanks for your comment, but I'm not convinced all shots are equal based on what I've read over the last 15 or so years. That's what I'm trying to find out. My MO did do a testosterone yesterday, we'll see if it's still <50 at the end of 4 mo. Next cycle I also plan to do a Psa at a separate lab at the end of 3 mo. We shall see, we shall see.

[charlesmeyers1964 in reply to herb1]

to me i find that the lupron/eliguard shot is very painful and got my oncologist to start the 6 month tx instead of the 3 month shot. i found that zytiga worked better. the side effects of the lupron shot degrades ones bone mass and that is important to me especially do to my age and and how many different drugs i've been on for the past 10 years.

charlie

[herb1 in reply to charlesmeyers1964]

Charles, tell me about it! Prostate cancer has almost been background for me while I had a) triple bypass, b)basal cell cancer removal, and most recently, c) carotid artery rotorooter surgery! But I go back to playing racquetball Monday! I'm 82.5!

[Blueslover in reply to herb1]

Good for you!

[herb1]

Nalakrats: thanks for your input. Surprised you didn't suggest croc blood, or was it alligator blood? I too have heard that the 1 mo is the most reliable, but it is a bother. In fact, I'm surprised that my doc goes with the 4 mo now, since that 'costs' him and his Anderson company a visit/yr. (3 instead of 4/yr). My objection to Vantas would be just that, NOT seeing my doc with more frequency. I guess that's ok if psa is staying 0.000000. But it ain't. Unfortunately, many other health issues have intervened so I'm not really elevated psa is attributable to prostate cancer. Let's see what T value is.

[billyboy3]

I agree that monthly is the best way to go and most consistent treatment, versus 3 or 6 months. The cost her unit is higher but I strongly believe the effects are better. Most cancer centres choose the six months most drug plans only cover that so be prepared to pay extra but you have one life, so get out the max. I noted this on an earlier feedback I did some time ago, so check it out. Basically, no research has been done to test the effectiveness of the three options and my concerns that for some, there is a major difference in effectiveness over time for a number of reasons. Like use premium gas vs reg,

[herb1 in reply to billyboy3]

Billyboy3. Haven't had any problem with Medicare paying (at least not since I dropped my urologist as the injecting agent). But as you note, there is only anectodal evidence for 1, 3, 4, 6 mo Lupron...or other agents. But you also point out that different guys may respond differently to the different shot longevities and the only way to test that is testosterone and/or psa tests. And that's what we're doing now...finally!

[charlesmeyers1964]

u realize that a male without cancer carries a psa from 0-4.0 and your saying your psa is .4 what is the worry?? your classified as normal if u go by those findings. me i just found some $ for me to start up on zytiga which kept my psa in the low double figures. so many of these drugs i have never heard of or treatments on this site. i also found out where i live don't offer alot of these new or old drugs. i have to go by what is available in the are of the country i live.

charlie

[herb1 in reply to charlesmeyers1964]

Charlie, Zytiga, as you note you "found" some money. I am very negative about the absurd cost of this, enzalutamide, and the newest, Erluda. I also am doubly concerned that Zytiga may be too tough on my already-damaged heart. MO isn't worried!

[charlesmeyers1964]

then why re u worrying about your score. u know that a normal male has a psa of 0-4.0 and u aren't there so forget it and relax

charlie

[herb1 in reply to charlesmeyers1964]

Charles. Wish that were true, but I have had soft tissue mets (lymph) or suspected mets (lung) for years, even though I started out as a GS 3+3. I fear that when the cancer gets going, it could escalate quickly. In the past my doubling time usually was 3.5 months!

[Hidden in reply to charlesmeyers1964]

That yardstick is only for untreated prostate and it doesn't stand up to close scrutiny.

[leo2634]

Six month Eligard so far PSA undetectable and pain from injection isn't bad at all. I guess who administered it has alot to do with the pain factor.

[npaulson1 in reply to leo2634]

Amen to that: Had an LPN give me one shot into my hip joint. Couldn't walk for two days. A week later I had a patch of bone pain on the front of my femur that had me wide-eyed. MO's comment: "Bad shot." Otherwise, no trouble with the six-month version.

[larry_dammit]

No experience with MD Anderson. My DO has me on a monthly shot. Was lupron, now Eligard PSA at .005. For 25 months

[Break60]

I’ve never had anything other than 3 month adt shots. They were not painful and worked as advertised.

[herb1]

Nalakrats. I must have alienated my docs along the way. I admit I'm an inquiring SoB! My GP has gone secondary to my cardiologist and I suspect would do the same for MO. Getting more frequent PSAs (or others) has not been easy; finally convinced MO to give me a script for PSA at 3 mo--to compare with his 4 month test! We shall see.

[herb1]

Maybe, but I happen to be happy with my current GP. I also am not a big believer in alt medicine AS IT IS CURRENTLY 'practiced'. I'm a scientist and I do believe in careful trials. When alt medicine is supported by same level of assessment, I will consider change.

[Hidden]

After years of receiving Lupron, I found that the monthly injections caused me no hot flashes (compared to the 4 month injections). Additionally, the only painful injections were when the nurse did not thoroughly mix the Lupron components.

[herb1]

Nalakrats: I agree that more trial efforts are deserving for alt medicals. There now is an Office of Alt Med; I don't know how active it is, however. Interesting that you mentioned carotid-I just had rotorooter; was 85% blocked. You paint a very negative picture of the US Medical system; I understand but refuse to go that far. Certainly cost is and always will be a factor. (I'm moving toward Zytiga-$10K/yr on my plan!

[herb1]

Maybe your way is the right way--I had triple bypass last year, then the rotorooter this year. sure my arteries are clogged and getting reclogged as we speak. will I go the edta route? I don't think so. Good luck to you.

[herb1]

Almost everyone is missing the point. I'm not worrying about a little pain in the arse, I'm not worried about incremental cost. I AM ONLY CONCERNED AS TO WHETHER THE 3 MO OR THE 4 MO LUPRON SHOT SUCCESSFULLY CONTROL MY PCA UNTIL THE NEXT SHOT!

[leo2634]

As I stated in my response PSA has been undetectable on the Eligard and I'm now on my second six month shot.