Not losing my body hair this time around

[Mascouche]

Just curious about something. Back when I was on Lupron (and Abiraterone), I had lost pretty much all of my chest hair as well as a lot of the hair I had on my arms and legs and pubic area.

During my ADT vacation the hair all came back which is fine.

After recurrence, I was prescribed Orgovyx (and Xtandi). The side-effects have been milder but I've just realized a few days ago that, unlike the first time around, I have not lost any body hair under these drugs.

I wonder if this means anything, such as maybe being less effective than when I was on Lupron? Anyone here has gone through something similar?

[fireandice123]

It seems that my body hair level goes up and down while I’m on Lupron. Also, I’ve had 4 vacations from Lupron and it definitely increased when I came off Lupron. But, when I restarted Lupron it varied. Sometimes I would lose quite a bit, sometimes not much at all. Each time my T level plunged down to castrate level regardless of how much body hair I did or didn’t have.

[Mascouche in reply to fireandice123]

Interesting. Wondering what makes it impact your body hair differently from time to time despite using the same drug.

[Rickmartin1948]

Hi Mascouche, I switched from Lupron to Orgovyx and had exactly the same experience my bodily hair grew back which it had not in a short 6 month vacation

Testosterone literally disappeared and PSA is <.008 which is close to undetectable. Oncologist could not explain why it happened but it does not hurt and the bad fat I am trying to shed is less obvious

[jtspitfire in reply to Rickmartin1948]

My doc considers less than 0.1 as undetectable. Is .000 even reachable? Fight on, brother.

[Atdabeach in reply to Rickmartin1948]

My understanding is that any PSA reading that starts with "<" is "undetectable," i.e., below the lowest level detectable by that test method. I prefer the ultra-sensitive tests too, and have come to love that "<" sign!

[Jazzman2023 in reply to Atdabeach]

Can you explain what ultra sensitive PSA tests are ? How do you ask for them ? Thanks !!!

[Atdabeach in reply to Jazzman2023]

You just tell the doctor who orders the test that you want the ultra-sensitive version. You might get some push back, but it's your cancer after all! Any decent lab will do it.

[Jazzman2023 in reply to Atdabeach]

Thanks !!

[Retireddoc]

In 10/22 I started Lupron as part of triple therapy for oligo metastatic disease. I lost almost all of my body hair, including a lot of my head hair. After completion of the chemo/taxotere, my head hair grew back. My Lupron was discontinued in July 2023 but my body hair hasn't returned although my testosterone level remains <30.

I experienced significant penile (and testicular) shrinkage while on Lupron. That has not improved (but T level remains low). Did you experience this and did it reverse when your testosterone returned?

[rfgh20 in reply to Retireddoc]

I lost almost all body hair. Off hormone therapy 5 months with very little body hair regrowth. Severe penile atrophy Testosterone still <10.

[Mascouche in reply to Retireddoc]

Hi Retireddoc. I had penile and testicular shrinkage on Lupron and that is also the case on Orgovyx though I do not know if it is to the same extent or not. To answer your question, yes the shrinkage did reverse when testosterone returned though I do not think my parts ever regained their previous size to the fullest, especially not my testicles which at best regained maybe 75% of their former size.

[Retireddoc in reply to Mascouche]

Thanks for the reply.

[Mgtd in reply to Retireddoc]

Took about a year after T returned for the hair on my legs to grow back fully. I only lost hair on my legs.

I only had radiation and Lupron.

This sounds dumb but I preferred the no hair look especially in the summer with shorts.

[Clippedwingz]

I’ve been on Orgovyx + Xtandi since May and have noticed some thinning of body hair and facial hair, but never lost it and in fact have been able to maintain a light beard with undetectable testosterone levels. I have experienced the penile and testicular shrinkage and hot flashes though. It may be Orgovyx moderates some of these vs. Lupron?

[j-o-h-n]

Remember: Hair today, gone tomorrow....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[GuacAndChips]

I’ve had three Lupron 6-month injections so far. Haven’t really noticed any loss of body hair, but I really never had that much to begin with. My testosterone level was relatively low to begin with, as well, before my prostate cancer diagnosis at age 70. My main Lupron symptom is the incessant hot flashes.