Shortly after starting ADT, I've developed this excruciating scrotum itch. Has anyone else experienced this?
Specifics: About 4 months ago Dx Stage IV. Started Casodex, Lupron, Zytiga, Xgeva, Prednisone. In about a month, developed scrotum itch, which isn't getting better. At first thought it was associated with night sweats. But jock itch ointments and powder are no help. And besides, my night sweats are upper body only, and I've never had jock itch even when sweaty there due hot weather or exercise, I'm guess it's associated with my obviously shrinking testicles or meds.
Any ideas or suggestions?
(Apologies for not adding a photo.)
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Gearhead
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There are medications for pruritis...you might try vistaril or Benadryl to see if that helps...perhaps see if an ( use a towel over this ) ice bag to the scrotum...a few times daily...Good luck...
so many different possibilities for such an itch--I'd check with my GP if the regular alternatives didn't help--it may or may not have anything to do with your other treatment
To much Tide in the washer...cut back on the soap..women feel more soap the cleaner you will be...These new washers use very little soap...I was going crazy thinking it was the Lupron and Xtandi. Using Emu oil and lotion which helped...cut to one pod for a full giant load and I am perfect...It is worth a try....Blue Skies a grounded Sky King...sometimes these little things work and we are looking at the meds...
Get one of your docs to write a prescription for 20 mg sildenafil every night. It won't stop the testicles from shrinking, but it will restore nocturnal erections, which will keep the organ healthy and prevent leaky scar tissue from causing permanent impotence. Once you get off ADT and testosterone levels return to normal, you can stop the sildenafil.
It's off patent in this dose (the usual dose for ED is 50-100 mg) and quite inexpensive. A month's supply shipped to my door is about $23.
I have scrotal itch from urine incontinence and I am on no more cancer therapy. I can tell you that itching begets itching. The more I scratch the more irritated the area gets, then the urine causes the scratched areas to burn and itch. So I would not blame your cancer therapy agents. Blame mother nature instead, when an area is scratched and then starts healing we have an inborn nature to scratch the area, because that is part of the healing process to remove a scab, which is really a natural band-aid. So cut your fingernails short so you can't dig in!
same with me. I'm on lupron - xtandi and I had it ( the serious itch ) for a couple - 3 months months and , like others here, after my " guys " shrank up to BB size and disappeared up into my abdomen ( I hope they are up there somewhere ) the irritating itching stopped. itch free now after 6 months on my treatment ... and " guys " free as well. ay ahaya ahay ah I'm still look'in at daises from the flower side ( pick'in not push'in up ) and at the age of 73 not all that big of a deal considering the benefits. as far as the night sweats go, I had those early on but now it's mostly just randomly happening ( sometimes frequent ) hefty hot flashes ( w/ heavy sweating for a brief period ). at first , I would wake up and my bed was soaked and like you , I was wet from the lower chest and up. judging from what I read here , this is generally as a result of removing the T from our bodies and happens no matter how or what is used to lower the T. that too has evolved to the hot flashes instead, except when I get my monthly ( nasty ) Zometa treatment. the night sweats with that can be heavy sometimes. goes away after a few days tho. I'm no expert for sure , those are just my own experiences. a number of guys here ARE both experienced and experts .
well ......... uh ................ yea ................ that makes sense ay ahaya ah ay ahaya haa mind blown. sleeping in the daytime also compliments that pesky fangs - full moon stuff too.
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I developed bad rashes legs, back and lower abdomen. Seemed to come on after start of Xtandi/Prednisone. (Already on lupron and xgeva for long time.) Asked MO and she said none of the drugs I was taking would cause a rash. Looked at side effect sheets myself, and they ALL could cause a rash. And if they did to let your doctor know. I used Dermasil, Hydrocortisone cream etc. Changed laundry and body soap. Nothing really worked. Pretty much cleared up now. But I can tell it is still there. Feel for anyone. Went on for over 6 months. As to hot flashes: 90% eliminated due to use of Gabapentin (prescribed for neuropathy). There is a different drug often cited here for hot flashes that is probably more appropriate for most. The very bad night sweats I had upper chest, neck, shoulders and head went away after about 2nd or 3rd chemo treatment. I believe that was the chemo shrinking my abdominal lymph nodes. I have no medical proof of that. The night sweats have never come back. As many have mentioned, thanks for no photo. Good luck.
Yeah. Not sure why it went away. Has gone away 95%. Not issue now, but will it come back? I did make sure I got a lot of sun that summer. That may be a hard thing for you to do. You sure don't want a sunburn down there.
I was told to discontinue casodex because it provides no benefit (other than mitigation of initial lupron flare) if also taking zytiga. There's a separate thread on wisdom of casodex + zytiga.
I've had a related situation and finally concluded it was not the drugs I was taking but to the fact that I have had to use liner pads to catch leaking post-prostatectomy and the accumulated urine occasionally sets up a yeast infection in the valleys between my legs and scrotum that resembles jock itch. My doctor prescribed ketoconazole (same as what is used for athlete's foot and jock itch), applied when the infection breaks out. Oddly, the infection migrates from one side to the other. Also, occasionally the adhesive on the pad gets folded under and presses directly against the scrotum causing severe itching. I keep the area clean and dry, and change the pads twice a day. Good luck--that's one insult to your body you should not have to bear!
I kinda have to deal with the yeast issues as well. if left unchecked it can become a problem for me. what I found what works for me on numerous fronts is that I spend from one to several enjoyable hours a day soaking in my Jacuzzi. I keep the bromine level a bit higher than recommended to kill off anything external and it works great. here in the ultra dry central valley of California it seems that serious strains of yeast explode - thrive when exposed to wet nutrients ( friends of mine swear they get yeast from handling - eating bakery products ) and it seems like the " stuff " that comes out of my pores ( like during the ever present sweats and hot flashes ) is rich with Lupron - Xtandi which seemingly may contribute to the yeast growth issue ( culture medium ? dunno , but seems like a strong likelihood tho ). underarms, crotch areas , wet hair , even between toes etc. . for me, the bromine soak totally kills off the fungi problems and is extremely beneficial with many other discomforts associated with my PCa treatment side effects like joint and muscle aches and pains .. uplifting mental benefit etc. it's just what works for me, your mileage may vary. like my Onc Doc says, everyone is different.
So this is a real thing? I thought I had jock-itch and plowed through several cans and tubes of various jock-itch remedies to no avail. I’m seeing my MO on Monday and I was planning on bringing this up with him. I’ve had this terrible itch for the last 3 months and it will wake me up at night sometimes. Either the itch or the sweating.
I was on Lupron/Casodex/Xgeva for two years after diagnosed with stage 4 PC. A couple of bone mets one on femur and one in groin area. After a year of that treatment bone mets were non-detectable. Continued the Xgeva for 2nd year, probably a mistake as I developed osteonecrosis of the jaw. I guess I'm the in the lucky 10% that will develop this remarkably painful side effect. Stopped taking Xgeva at that point (about a year now) and jaw pain has subsided, but not completely healed. I have exposed jawbone inside my mouth that will need to either be removed or scraped away and covered. Doesn't sound very pleasant and I'm not looking forward to it. I guess the bottom line is, just be wary of staying on Xgeva for more than a year.
I am now on Lupron and Xtandi, last PSA was 0.20 so that much of my treatment is going well. I've never experienced the itching you have described, so I can't comment on that unfortunate experience.
Gold bond anti itch with menthol, worked the best of anything I found. Tried anti fungals, cortisone, various lotions to no success. Dermatologist not MO had not a clue as to cause or treatment. I suspect strongly that Xgeva was cause in my case.
All this talk of ice bags and shrinking testicles is making my eyes water. I think I'll trade in this disease for the Black Death or some other innocuous malady. I think if you get a good friend to blow gently on them it might help more.
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