I started Lupron 3 month shots this past August. Abiraterone (4- 250mg tabs/day) was added at same time. I would be interested if someone can explain what the benefit is of adding Abiraterone to the treatment rather than just going with with Lupron 3 month shots alone?
Thanks
Longevity.
Increase in meds costs....for Medical Pharmacies.........
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Sunday 10/29/2023 10:52 PM DST
Your survival may improve. ADT plus abiraterone has a median OS than ADT alone in mCSPC and mCRPC.
You will need 3 years of ADT and 2 years of Zytiga. They did a randomized trial, and those who got the Zytiga lived longer and were less likely to progress.
Hi F10. Your bio says Degarelix, not Lupron. And as for Abiraterone, which I'm on, I would politely like to suggest that your question could be deeper and more helpful to you if you read introductory pamphlets about prostate cancer. (This is the polite version of my reply 😀)
Your question concerns the most basic understanding of prostate cancer therapy. But we don't know if you are metastatic or not, which makes a huge difference.
There are probably hundreds or even thousands of prostate cancer introductory overviews. There will be many of them by reputable institutions.
In my year and a half since diagnosis I have spent literally hundreds of hours trying to understand my situation. Fortunately I am able to do this cognitively, although experiencing debilitating tiredness, I am now on methylphenidate as a stimulant.
Most important thing for you to do, which oddly doesn't seem to be emphasized as much as it should be in common introductions, and in my case was not mentioned even at all by my doctors, is exercise. As much as you can both aerobic and strength. The pamphlets say exercise is good but they don't say how extremely good it may be.
It's odd that your doctors didn't explain to you why you are being given this excellent drug.
Once you are a little more familiar with your own status and the therapies, then you will have more helpful questions in terms of understanding your own options and expectations.
A big success F1!
I think Tango refers to this study: thelancet.com/article/S0140...
"Among men with high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer, combination therapy is associated with significantly higher rates of metastasis-free survival compared with ADT alone. Abiraterone acetate with prednisolone should be considered a new standard treatment for this population."
Lupron stops hormone production, from testicles. But thats not enough.
Abiraterone stops the rest of testosterone production from the adrenal glands, and from the cancer cells producing their own testosterone to feed on.
Longer survival rate.
If abiraterone out-of-pocket cost is an issue, it can be had in the US for about $100/month from several online cash-only generic-only pharms. I use scriptco.com.
O was told that Lupron helps reduce testosterone but doesn’t address the adrenal glands where an additional 15% of our testosterone is produced. The Aberaterone deals with that 15%.
Lupron, Abiraterone and Prednisone...constant bruising
Experience, thus far with Lupron and Abiraterone
Side Effects of Lupron plus Abiraterone
who out there has been on Lupron and abiraterone? 
Lupron+docetaxel+Abiraterone 
