A New Journey at 71

[Mattj3rd]

Men - I appreciate the opportunity to connect to this community and to learn from all of you who have been on the prostate cancer journey. I am a 71 year old who was first diagnosed with prostate cancer when I was 49. I have had surgery and salvage radiation treatments when my cancer recurred. I recently found out that the cancer is in my bones, lesions on the spine and a recent bone scan. I will have an MRI in a week and will start hormone therapy in late August after returning from a scheduled trip. I love my work and will continue to work a couple of days a week. I want to maintain as much physical functioning as long as possible. What should I think about as I take this new journey on? Questions for my oncologist? I live in Oregon and I am followed at Oregon Health Sciences University. Thank you -

[Tall_Allen]

OHSU is excellent, especially Tomasz Beer. Hopefully, ADT will shrink your bone metastases and the side effects won't be too bothersome.

[Mattj3rd in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks -

[Magnus1964]

I was diagnosed at age 42, I am now 75. You respond well to treatment so here is hoping you do well on ADT drugs

What will your first hormone drug be? I am a big fan of doing one drug at a time and milking each for all it's worth.

[Hidden in reply to Magnus1964]

Freakin amazing Magnus! If you’re 75 now what is the 1964 mean to you .?

[Magnus1964 in reply to Hidden]

The year I graduated from high School.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

That’s was a great year! 👏🏼

[Karmaji in reply to Magnus1964]

What a journey...32 years...and still long journey...keep it upRegarding ADT....reactions vary from one person to another....

Nobody can say except yourself.

I am on ADT since 2 years.....

No special disturbing reaction....

When at home, feel lousy.....since mind is screwed up..due to hormone blocking

Get out and walk....no lousiness......

Each APC is unique to each of us...no one fit all

But key is mental attitude and keep moving if possible...

I had no weight gain, some boob swelling and feeling tired but not tired when out....

Hot flashes...I handle with acupressure and homeopathy granules..Lachesis mutus 7ch seems to work for me.

Pee 2 or 3 times at night....get used to it...dont drink much water before going to bed and do pelvic exercise..... some essential oil message may work....

Sexual part if one is interested can be handled thru mind fantasy....I take 5 mg tadalafil..am 81.....

We share our journeys which are different for each of us.....

[Magnus1964 in reply to Karmaji]

You are describing my journey.

[Mattj3rd]

Thanks - I will start on Lupron and Casodex - I will be talking to my doctor next Tuesday. I will start on it in about 21 days. I want to be in town in case there are side effects that need to be addressed. You have been working with prostate cancer for a long time. Just getting your response was/is hopeful.

[Fightinghard in reply to Mattj3rd]

Many times they will start off with casodex alone for about 2 weeks before starting lupron. The casodex should help reduce chance of a psa flare when starting lupron.

Casodex usually discontinued about 2 weeks after lupron shot

I think of the casodex as “priming the pump”

[Mattj3rd in reply to Fightinghard]

Thanks. I will ask my doctor next week about this possibility.

[Hidden]

Welcome aboard .. .. some seem to breeze thru adt with little side effects . Others struggle . Do you have any idea of what your t levels are now? Have you done adt before ? I was hit hard by lethargy on Lupron and Tak-700 at the age of 53 . I did imrt at that time .I’m now 60 .I’m still on the Tak . Ive been able to stuff the pc five years now . You of all people know ,that this APC is a long winded bastardo. If you can stay active through out adt ? and do weight bearing and cardio activities often? It betters the hope of staving off heart and osteo issues that come with adt use . Good luck Sir to you and your family . 🙏

[Mattj3rd in reply to Hidden]

Thank you - I have not done adt before but knew at some point this day would be coming and now here it is. I do exercise regularly - cardio and some weights - I want to hold the progression as long as I can.

[Hidden in reply to Mattj3rd]

Keep that up ! and you can stay ahead of the decline. Lupron can make you loopy.It took me 3 yrs to stop thinking about walking off a pier. Somehow I got better moods and a bit more energy by taking Sam-e . We are all trying to kick a rotten can down the road. I’m still on the test adt drug. I chopped the boys 2017 to drop the Lupron. No t either surgical or chemical has the same side effects . Maybe less cardio issues without Lupron? Hopefully this Makes us smell any roses alone the way . Keep rolling Senor! 💪

[London441 in reply to Mattj3rd]

Explorer08 is on point sir. The ADT side effects are dramatically less with weight training. ‘Some weights’ doesn’t sound like much. Up your game on this and you won’t regret it.

Personally I don’t believe much in the ‘some get side effects from ADT and some don’t’ theory. It’s not random like that.

The preserving of muscle mass, combined with smart diet and caloric restriction, directly counters the sarcopenia and thus the fatigue.

Also the hot flashes, mental fog, metabolic syndrome, increased LDL (bad) cholesterol, increased triglycerides, bone density loss-all of it!

Finally, as I like to say, we’re old-and old people (especially) need to lift regularly- regardless of the absence or presence of disease.

[Hidden in reply to Mattj3rd]

Keep it up and you will do well as anyone can. … adt depletes us. We try to stay moving .. the main thing is to not let APC progress on us . Good luck Sir ..it’s a bumpy road that we are all on . You ain’t alone! Be well . ✌️

[Mattj3rd in reply to Hidden]

Thanks - it is a journey. Just hearing from the men is heartening. It holds me up.

[Hidden in reply to Mattj3rd]

We can relate to each other. When

a normal guy can not relate to this bs unless he’s there. Take care M-3 ✌️

[Mattj3rd]

A major decision for you. I appreciate you staying connected here - will post more as the journey begins again -

[Poowater]

What is your psa? Treatment depends on this.

[larry_dammit]

Worst part of the ADT for me was that it shrank my manhood and gave me man boobs 🤣🤣🤣. Been on it now for 5 years and getting my strength back but have gained a few pounds. Good luck warrior 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[Hidden in reply to larry_dammit]

5 yrs of fun huh? What’s manhood? I forgot! Manboobs ? Oh yah . You’re still rocking dammit! Keep rolling Larry!

[Explorer08]

I would change from what you referred to as “some weights” to doing a LOT of weights. Maintaining muscle mass is critical to avoiding frailty from ADT. Be sure to include weighted leg presses, one of the key elements in avoiding frailty - according to the researchers who developed Orgovyx which is the ADT I am taking. Good luck!!

[bandgeek]

Sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. I skipped all the early, fun (lol) PC steps and went straight to advanced mestastatic PC with numerous bones lesions in my spine and pelvis region. Ironically this was discovered in a routine Pet scan as a follow up to my Melanoma from a few years ago. These lesions manifested in a 3 month period, and only after MRIs and a bone biospy did they diagnos PC. My PSA at time of of diagnosis was 225. Immediately started ADT ( Androgen deprivation Therapy) using Lupron and abiraterone and prednisone.In 5 months my PSA dropped to 5.8. I've been incredibly lucky and side effects have been few and far between. And we are hoping for complete remission of the lesions. For now. My big take away.....is that everyone is different in all aspects of this journey. Best of results and health . Regards,

Bradley

[Mattj3rd in reply to bandgeek]

Thanks - how long has it been since you started treatment? Your age and you are feeling optimistic? I appreciate you sharing this with me.

[bandgeek in reply to Mattj3rd]

I am 67 and was diagnosed march 1st and started treatment March 3rd. I'm kinda pissed off....but that is passing. Experiencing some mood swings ( side effect?) and considering therapy. I'm hopeful overall. Not going to waste anytime doing the things I want. Spending my money faster than my original financial plan, since I have every belief the PCa will drastically shorten my life expectancy. We all will have a different path. When we become resistant. and then how we respond to the alternates are ultimately what will seal our fates. Good luck. B

[diamondrn]

Stay on top of everything and take Reagan's advice; "Trust but verify."

This is a good group to be part of. I have only been here a relatively short time and have already benefitted greatly by following some timely advice from admins and members.

[dadzone43]

I'd say: keep on living your life as vitally as you have. Healthful food, exercise, meditation and medical treatment.

[Mattj3rd in reply to dadzone43]

thanks - I have had a good run and I am not finished yet. Staying positive -