Lupron timing, is it critical to stay on strict schedule?

[Fastingguy]

I get my Lupron shots every 6 months. We have recently moved more than 1,000 miles. Looks like it might take awhile to transfer my medical care. My Lupron shot is due Sept 3. Question: Would a week or two delay be dangerous? If so I’ll try knocking on some backdoors to try to get jabbed before my paperwork is done. If not I’ll just enjoy our new digs and let the process proceed at its own snail’s pace. Thanks for being here. Hope you’re feeling okay.

[Tall_Allen]

Not a good idea.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Tall_Allen]

auajournals.org/doi/10.1097...

[Fastingguy in reply to Tall_Allen]

Much appreciated.

[Fastingguy]

I’m afraid I have never been undetectable. I hover around 4, which is better than the 50 something it was when I did doxy 4 years ago. I’m not in a test. Logical they would be very strict in that case.

[tango65]

It takes several months or more for testosterone to recover above 50. after lupron is stopped. You could consider to get your testosterone checked periodically and if it goes up above 20 (ideal value} you should try to get the lupron.

[Fastingguy in reply to tango65]

T was 25 last month.

[tango65 in reply to Fastingguy]

You need to c consider to get the shot of Lupron.

[Fastingguy in reply to tango65]

I am going to start working the phone in about 2 hours to try to get an emergency appointment.

[Chugach]

Don’t worry about it

[Fastingguy in reply to Chugach]

Thanks. That’s a good generic piece of advice.

[Chugach in reply to Fastingguy]

I certainly respect Tall Allen on this forum and I’m not a doctor- but a week or two should not matter much it takes awhile to get things working again - sometimes worry is worse than the risk IMO

[Garbonzeaux]

My first two Lupron shots were 4-month doses. I thought the 3rd one was also, but there was a SNAFU, and they gave me a 3-month dose w/o my knowing it. So I was a whole month late for the next one. It didn't seem to be a problem for me, as I still made it to undetectable and am now on the 3-month regimen.

[CharlieBC]

While on intermittent Lupron, after a six month shot, I waited until my PSA started to rise before the next shot- 15 months later, It definitely stays in your system beyond the time frame "label" (i.e 3 month, six month).

[Dont08759]

I was 2 weeks delayed for my 5th 90 day Lupron (22.5mg) shot. My PSA was <0.02 and my T was <2.5

[Fastingguy in reply to Dont08759]

I would be delighted with numbers like yours. Keep on keeping on brother.

[Boywonder56]

I know one of my shots"overlapped" by 10 days....not fun for weeks...and have been couple days late on few.....and do notice a certain " clarity" ...in my head...se still major ...but shade behind eyballs seems to lift......but i also noticed when i got the china flu shot ..i felt the same heady feeling i get with lupron/el igardAs it got to my brain....maybe im wierd ...but thats where all this shit works...thats my story and im stickin to it...

[Fastingguy in reply to Boywonder56]

I can’t remember what an unfogged brain is like. But even before the treatments began I was never accused of being a conventional thinker. And I have never been sure whether I am post-conventional or pre-conventional.

[SeosamhM]

I will be able to tell you in about 2 weeks - after moving across country at the end of June and multiple records issues between my former oncology practice and potential providers that ate up precious time even though I started the process in May (no office will book an appointment without records, apparently, with some providers wanting a "fax" of 300 pages - what???...)....Cue the Charlie Brown quote: "Auugh!!!"

Anyway, I'm finally booked with a mid-September appointment, and due to the nature of what I call "medical time", I doubt that they will be prepared to give Lupron even then. I figure another appointment to get this in late September/early October. I do not love the hobby of navigating the medical bureaucracy, but at least there is a path to treatment.

Here's the punchline: I was due mid-July for Lupron (3 month schedule). Scary on paper. But frankly, after exactly 5 years post-diagnosis, I'm a bit numb. I'm a 4+5, just turned 54, and many of my age peers - including here on HU - have passed. I have had chemo, radiation, immunotherapy and physically and mentally push on this monster of uncertainty every day. It is exhausting and I simply don't have the capacity to grow fear anymore.

The good news is that Lupron doesn't simply quit working. Like all drugs, it has some active half-life in each of us individuals that is impossible to predict, although I'm sure there are multiple Poisson distributions for Lupron efficacy in populations somewhere. These are unhelpful to me for making personal decisions - to say I definitively fall on any part of these curves would only be speculation. I may as well acquire some cryptocurrency or play online poker to have a bit of fun.

This summer, I've met my original goals of seeing my son graduate high school and my daughter graduate college. I feel okay. I will wait for the good and proud doctors to make time for me as I watch the hummingbirds quarrel over the feeder - it's as good a plan as any.

"I have no fear, for fear is the little death that kills me over and over. Without fear, I die but once."

Good luck (to us both)! - Joe M.

[Hidden]

I'm no expert, but I've been on Lupron injections every four months for over three years. I would not delay more than the two weeks that you mentioned before your next injection. I went off Lupron for several months because I did not like the "loss of libido," even though I am 76 years old. My PSA climbed to 52. I got back on it. PSA went down to about 2.0. My metastatic prostate cancer, according to a recent Petscan, is still confined to my prostate. I do not want it to spread to my bones or lymph nodes.

[Sandy752]

I've been on Lupron (every four months) for more than 7 years. Two years ago, I messed up and missed getting one for 2 months so it was six months between injections instead of four. Did not affect my PSA which has been around .23 for 3 years.

[golddiggingrandy]

I missed my 6 mth Lupron shot for about 6mths when I retired from Cal. and moved to Montana 4 yrs ago. It took that long for me to get get get lined out with a new medical plan, Kaiser to Cabinet Peaks now Medicare and I went from undetectable to 2or3. It was enough for my new M.O. to get me on Xtandi last year. Now still undetectable but , boy what a ride and now 2 weeks into covid. ouuch sickest I've ever been

[Fastingguy in reply to golddiggingrandy]

Sorry about the Covid. Get well soon.

[golddiggingrandy in reply to Fastingguy]

Thank you much, I thought I couldn't get much sicker than the Lupron/Xtandi regimen , I was wrong the covid just turned me into an invalid like times 3

[Fastingguy]

Got my shot today. Patient advocate at VA Asheville was most helpful. Thanks everyone for your input.