Any feedback after using Eligard? My husband is being advised to start it . Original diagnosis 2003- had surgery
2014- radiation
2919 ( present)- PSA jump to 18.7.
Bone scans , ct scans all clear .
Urologist advises Eligard once every 6 months.
Plan to consult functional MD who treats a lot of cancer folk with diet, vit c infusion , etc . He is a huge advocate of Jane McLelland ( How to starve cancer without starving yourself)
Any body have any input on any side effects ? We’re searching and praying for right action
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Auntieshine
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I've been on Eligard for almost 3 years now. The side effects are caused by the reduction in Testosterone. The main ones are: loss of libido, hot flashes, mild anemia, loss of bone and muscle mass and cognitive issues.
Most prostate cancers are "hormone sensitive" meaning they need male hormones to reproduce. Shutting them down to very low levels is effective for around 90% of newly diagnosed advanced prostate cancer.
When I consider the side effects, I also keep in mind that I wouldn't even be alive without this treatment. I also remember how much pain I was in before I started treatment and how my pain was gone after 3 weeks on Lupron (the same as Eligard).
I agree with gregg. I have been on Eligard for 20 months now and while it's not a pleasant ride it's keeping me alive along with my Zytiga. I might add I've had Provenge therapy in June and all my scans this month were improved. Leo
I agree with gregg77, too. I have been on Eligard since July 2012, except for an unsuccessful ADT holiday.
I swim laps to stay healthy. The main irritating side effect for me is the hot flashes and night sweats. 90% reduction can be obtained by taking the generic anti-depressant Venlofaxine.
(A side effect of this medicine is an adjusted attitude, according to my wife!)
Just starting out? I’m not going to say “welcome” but...... The only things I can suggest is keep and stay active!!! Doctors will tell you about the libido and hot flashes so I had no clue what was going on with the more severe ones, and I just let them take over!! And trying to come back after succumbing to the them is a real SoB!! You will not be able to use that excuse......now!!!!
* You’ll go through andropause (male menopause) so, you’ll cry, you’re mood will swing, hot flashes will warm you on a cold winters night where you total absence of libido will no longer help you out......!
*Likely, your weight will explode!!! Watch your diet and exercise RELIGIOUSLY!!! You don’t need to lift a bridge....but stay as strong as you can for as long as you can!!!!
*Keep your joints loose because, they will likely hurt!!!
*You’ll likely be lethargic!!! Do stuff!!! If a two hour task, takes two days, so what......DO IT!!!! Then do something else!!!!
*If you think you’re losing your mind, you likely are!!!! Read, watch game shows, do puzzles.......you get it! Write because that can get difficult too!!!
*As awkward as it is to say or hear, exercise your penis too. May not want to but if you hope to come through this with one that works.....atrophy is freaking REAL!!!!! Plus, Low dose Viagra is cheep and keeps nighttime erections suppling some fresh blood to little Jimmy!!!
* Stay social because you might become recluse caused by anxiety and depression, it’ll really sneak up on you and hurt your family life!!!
*Enough for now because, once again, you get it!!!
OR, You’ll walk right through without a scratch!!!! Only you will find out!!!!!
One thing for sure is if you get the crappy end of the stick, you’ll be alive to bitch about it!!!!
Best of luck / success and remember to reach out as needed, and to share your experiences!! It helps the others behind you!!!!
Thank you one and all for sharing . My husband and I are so overwhelmed . Hope to gain my normal optimism and strength and faith back soon . Good health to all
I concur with the previous posts. It will be "Eligard for life." Some side effects are manageable... I take 75-mg/day of venlafaxine, which stops 90% of the hot flashes and sweats.
Best wishes!
I was on ADT almost seven years. I either had Eligard or Lupron. Preferred Eligard. I recommend three month injections because of PSA over 18. Don’t wait to do PSA every six months..... in fact, back in 2003 when I was close to your husband, I had monthly PSA.
Strongly recommend that you research micro-metastases and discuss with your Doctor. If he has a strange look on his face, then find the best medical oncologist available that specializes in prostate cancer. Even if he doesn’t look strange, you really should have a consult with a MO anyway. Your surgeon, did his job. There are other specialists out there.
I was on lupron for a year or so when doctor switched me to eligard. Only difference I could tell is that instead of the shot hurting for a week eligard burns like a son of a gun for a little while.
Eligard has nasty side effects as described in the previous posts. Materially reduces the quality of life. I was prescribed Eligard. Had two shots and then because of proposed surgery to transect my medial lobe sought a second opinion. Result was to stop Eligard, no radiation, and brachytherapy. Will see how it works out.
Have gone vegan, working out every day, and meditating - near Dr. Ornish regimen. My guess is that will provide some measure of additional protection. If my PSA goes up, definitely will look at additional natural approaches. Here is a link to some resource books in addition to Jane McLelland. Good luck. amazon.com/How-Starve-Cance...
I started Eligard in 2011 and yes I had all of the side effects, but they come and go and with time the became much less for me. I took it for 6 1/2 years without stopping along with 30 radiations bone metastases. I was OK most of the time. There are fifteen side effects and you can read about them on the drug website for "Lupron". Don't read about using these drugs for women to have children, that is what the drug was approved for first. In women it releases their eggs (like 5 at one time) but in most men it stops the release of testosterone. When Testosterone (T) comes in contact with prostate cell it causes the cell to multiply. Without T the cell (both cancerous and normal) does not subdivide. The PSA is a protein given off whenever a prostate cell subdivides so that tells you weather cells are dividing or not. My PSA is now 0.06 and I no longer have prostate cancer so this therapy worked for me. So keep asking questions and above everything else, keep truckin'.
I have been on Lupron (which I believe is the same thing as Eligard) for 7 years (although I took it intermittently for the first 5 yrs). I had many of the same side-effects as mentioned by others, such as: libido loss, weight gain, and "man-boobs", hot flashes.... I also agree with many of the suggestions above and would also suggest looking into a medicine that may prevent or limit the "man-boob" effect. In addition, you must discuss adding chemo (Docetaxel), or Zytiga or Apalutamide or perhaps another drug along with the Lupron. I took Zytiga along with the Lupron for the first 5 yrs. I have been off of it for the last 2. But- I am starting it again this week as my PSA beacme measureable again at .08. Many, but not all doctors prescribe a 2nd PC med when they first prescribe Lupron. Others choose to wait and see how the Lupron works by itself to avoid additional side-effects, and they may also have other concerns which may lead them to hold off on a 2nd med.
I commenced Eligard in February 2019, side effects were minor, moved to vegan diet at the same time. The Eligard reduced my PSA from 18 to 1.3, however my PSA reading in November 2019 is back to 8.2. I have just undertaken a new Pet scan yesterday and I am talking to my medical oncologist tomorrow on next step. I have been following Tall_ Allen's comments on this forum and he is super knowledgeable. His comment "Keep in mind that every cancer is different" is so true.
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