Anyone taken a break from Lupron after chemo?

[Greatfaith]

I'm wanting to know if anyone following this blog stopped Lurpon injections after their last chemo infusion. Having been diagnosed with Mets in pelvis, spine, but not liver and lungs, I have undergone 3 of my 6 chemo infusions and would like to take a break from all drugs once the chemo is over. My PSA was 0.177 last check. Has anyone out there taken a break from drugs after treatment then went on a vegan diet? I appreciate any feedback. Thank you! And hang in there everyone, this is a great group that really provides useful information for all of us who never chose to have this in common.

[Hidden]

Sounds like you have made good treatment decisions so far and have gotten excellent results. What you are doing has been proven to work and my advice would be to stick with that. Working on your overall health with a plant-based diet is always a good idea, but alone it is not a substitute for treatment.

Celebrate your good results and stay the course, that's my advice.

[dockam]

Hey, I had 15 Taxotere sessions in 2015 (got to 0.7 PSA), started ADT in Jan that year and had 30 months. Stopped it in 03/2018 and took an 18 month hormone holiday. PSA nadir in 2018 of 0.1 for 3 months, it got to 10.2 in Dec 2018 and restarted ADT, got it back down to 3.9 as of last month. Did change diet to low carb, lean protein, plant-based with a 16 hr daily IF (Intermittent Fast)

My best to you Brother

Randy

[Greatfaith in reply to dockam]

Thank you for sharing your info, it’s great to hear you had a holiday off this stuff. My best to you brother!

[Hidden]

Some do; some don’t. If you do have monthly PSA, T, and hsT...... it was not the path which I ventured. Started quarterly injections of Lupron/Eligard on May 4, 2004; entered a six month chemo trial; and continued the quarterly hormone injects until February 10, 2010. My philosophy, starve and kill the little bastards until they are gone.

Good luck which ever path you choose. May you have many undetectables.

Gourd Dancer

[cesanon]

I would be reluctant to mix a vegan diet with all the other abuse that these treatments are doing to your system.

There is no way to know if it will help or hurt. If you don't have a history of eating vegan, all it can do is give your body one more thing to adapt to. You need to be gentle on your body right now.

[Torque in reply to cesanon]

Just my opinion, but...the extra hormone load in muscle/meats MAY be problematic with PCa. The adaptation to organic veggies/fruits & meats seems prudent because less contaminants for the body to process. We decided to follow a modified vegetarian diet. Still eating wild caught fish. Marshall's numbers are "undetectable" at this point: Lupron + Casodex, have done two rounds of Lupron, third injection next month. Obviously, the numbers could be down solely due to treatment, not diet. But it's like wearing lucky underwear: won't hurt, might help. And, yes~ taking appropriate supplements recommended for vegans, as the diet leans pretty hard in that direction. Also eating less dense foods helps to hold the line on weight gain.

[Greatfaith in reply to Torque]

Thank you!!

[cesanon]

What was your treatment prior to the chemo? Radiation or prostatectomy?

[Greatfaith in reply to cesanon]

Chemo is my first treatment

[cesanon in reply to Greatfaith]

Then you still have a lot of prostate cells left in your prostate. You will never sustain 0.00 PSA.

You have to pay attention to PSA trajectory as opposed to absolute levels.

[Greatfaith in reply to cesanon]

Thank you.

[RonnyBaby]

I would approach this decision with caution.

Based on what I've learned and read, an ADT (or treatment free holiday) cessation takes about as much time to 'clear out as the time you were on treatment. The half-life of ADT takes time to fully get out of your system. For example, I was on ADT for 16 months and I've been told (and experienced a reduction in side effects) that I should be back to 'normal' by NEXT spring. That timeline is the same as the time I was on the drug (Lupron).

12 months AFTER my last shot, I am still having hot flashes (although reduced significantly) and still getting stronger as my energy continues to increase. I am finally sleeping better (with a herbal cocktail) after suffering for over a year with MAJOR insomnia.

A 'nadir' (or lowest PSA point / count) that is 'undetectable' is the best guage as to when to take a holiday. If you haven't bottomed out, a holiday is not advised, because the cancer is still 'active' and not in remission.

Consult with your medical team to discuss your nadir and timing about a holiday is my advise.

Best wishes to you and your loved ones .....

[Greatfaith in reply to RonnyBaby]

Thank you for this information, I appreciate it!

[kick-prostate-cancer]

FWIW, my husband's MO and Urologist both suggested he keep with the Lupron since his side effects are almost non-existant and his PSA has dropped to 0.01!! Everyone has to do what is best for him, and we believe in QOL. Wishing you luck with your journey.

[Greatfaith]

Hi, yes I stopped Lupron after one year, which was six months after my last chemo. It took about 6 months for my testosterone to rise and rid the after affects but unfortunately my PSA started to rise and continued to rise up from zero to 47 in just 7 months. I just had a scan and the mets on my spine started to enlarge but everything else seems to be the same, pelvis, scull mets, etc. I started Lupron again today and am scheduled for an MRI for my spine, then possible radiation. I must say it was great being off Lupron for awhile, I did not miss the hot flashes and enjoyed my libido returning, but party is over and staying alive is what matters most. If my PSA hadn't risen so quickly, I would have continued to enjoy the "holiday." I've read some men have been able to have a longer holiday, and I was hoping to be one of them, I believe the most important thing is to continue to monitor your situation and have scans. I really appreciated the chance to clear my brain of drugs for awhile and feel more normal. I wish you all the best.