Need ADT advice

[Teaker]

I expect to get my first Lupron shot this week as an appetizer for staring RT in about 2 months. Reading all the side effects of Lupron gives me the willies. I can deal with man boobs, maybe even hot flashes and mood changes. I am more concerned about the cognitive impact of ADT, bone loss, muscle tone decline and extreme fatigue. How likely are those side effects? What can I do to minimize them? My doc tells me “some men” experience a range of those side effects. I’d like to know more.

[Echotango51]

Hi Teaker, I had six months of lupron before I had RT, only side effects I had was hot flashes. About 1 1/2 years after RT my PSA started going up. I have been on lupron for 5 years . I work out 2 to 3 time a week to help on my muscle loss , no man boobs , also I take calcium with D3 600mg daily. Hopefully you will have a great out come with your RT.

ET

[Hidden in reply to Echotango51]

Phone home. ET! Bravissimo ! 😎👏👍

[Hidden]

Well, from my personal experience, the best thing you can do now is keep your net daily calories to 1300-1400 a day and get to the gym every day. Aerobic everyday(mix up equipment) and weights at least 3x's a week. Cognitive decline should not be your worry if you exercise and have a proper diet. The fatigue and muscle loss will also be greatly impacted for the positive.

The longer a man is on ADT, the more apt to getting the boobs but there are some treatments to reduce that if that's a huge concern. Radiation to the breast area and there is a medicine that you can take that has some succes. I did neither. I have some books and they are now slowly reducing with gym and diet. Im off ADT at the moment.

I played ice hockey, worked PT at my job, and went to the gym a minimum of 5x week. I was hiking in the Swiss ALPs at 10k+ altitudes with little to no issues with strength or stamina after 2 months of ADT. No doubt some fatigue set in towards the end of RT and that will subside in about 30 days.

Good luck.

[Vangogh1961]

I was on firmagon, switched to lupron and have had 2 injections. I do have hot flashes, a bit of memory fog, but at age 60, it's hard to discern if the Lupron is the cause. I continue to work full-time as an RN CM. I walk on a treadmill most days, exercise bike or road bike the others. After chemo and radiation I did have muscle loss, but it's slowly coming back and my strength and stamina have definitely returned, very close to pre chemo days.

[SteveTheJ]

YMMV for sure. No hot flashes for me, some mental fog, and definitely some fatigue. Walk or do weight-bearing exercise for bone strength. I have not taken Xgeva or the other medications like that yet my Sept 2021 bone scan was normal.

Ignore the side effects; they're always terrifying. Consider the alternative.

[Hidden]

seemed like once I passed the 6 month mark on Lupron symptoms got a little worse, in terms of muscle loss, and I was working out several times a week with weights. Legs got weaker, belly was really hard for me to control. I have problems with all that to begin with so it may be less for you.

[j-o-h-n]

Be ready for high heel shoe shopping..........and for frilly pink or black underwear.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 02/14/2022 11:52 AM EST

[Hidden in reply to j-o-h-n]

A little lace? 😂👏👏

[Tall_Allen]

If you are just getting it adjuvant to radiation, many of those side effects do not apply to you. Expects hot flashes and loss of libido. Exercise is especially important when you're having radiation.

[Shooter1]

What TA said. Cumulative effects are expected the longer you are on Lupron...hot flashes, loss of libido, testis turning into jelly beans. Get that exercise.. Life Is Good, enjoy the new trip your life has just entered.

[Hidden]

Well Teaker ? What an appetizer ? I did the same seven years ago . Lupron and a test adt drug tak-700 prior to 8 wks imrt .. The good news for me and I hope for you also is to go into a long term no signs remission as I have. I wasn’t able to work out much my first two yrs due to tubes into my kidneys and a foley .I lost all muscle and the the bones and teeth were drained . Whoo hoo. ! So you must lift weights and get daily cardio . Even when you feel like hell . Push it! You can push the pc down . But you still must fight to maintain any muscle and to protect the heart from adt damage . Good job finding this cite early on . I did not . Ask away . Love yourself those around you and life itself .. we only have one go at this . God bless ! 🙏😎

[Teaker]

Thank you all for the replies to my question. This helps reduce my willies about ADT and encourages me to pump some iron, stretch some bands and do more CV exercises.

[cancerfox]

Depends on how long you take the Lupron, you did't mention how long you are planning to take it, and everyone has different experiences, but all the above comments are possible if you take it for an extended period of time. Hot flashes, chills, no libido, muscle loss, energy loss, less stamina, faster fatigue, genital shrinkage, mood changes, memory decrease, weight gain........I've noticed all of these with Eligard, which is similar to Lupron. Weight training, reducing calorie intake, and walking/jogging/bicycling help with the side effects, but at least in my case haven't eliminated them. Like someone else noted, I especially notice the loss of strength in my legs. Going nuts with the weight lifting and cardio activities to counteract the side effects sounds great, but in reality is difficult when you feel like crap half way through your routine. Good luck to you!