Degarelix?

[Dreamweaverman]

Has anyone used this Hormone treatment drug? My doctor seems to recommend this as easier to manage than some of the other drugs. Any thoughts?

[EdinBmore]

Yes, I was given an injection of Firmagon (degarelix). I was also given a 3 mo injection of Lupron. Pros and cons: Firmagon only comes in 1 month injections; it causes redness at injection site (and I don't mean a small red dot like most injections. The redness was the size of 3 fingers on both sides of my belly); it also produces a lumpy jell under the skin that is sensitive to the touch and waist band of underwear/pants; it's 2 injections on each side of your belly, not one; the side effects of ADT are awful, just saying.

Lupron injections come in varying durations, from 1 mo to 6 mos. Single injection. No jell under the skin. No redness. But, those are almost cosmetic types of side effects. Read the drug company list of side effects to get a better idea of what to expect. And, the two drugs act differently (they both reduce testosterone to zero but one acts on the brain and the other acts directly on the testicles).

I experienced: no sex drive; no ejaculate; increase blood pressure; worsening of bone density; shrinking of genitals; hot flashes; and so on. The other big side effect is often wt gain - significant wt gain - and the development of man boobs. I've been very lucky; that has not happened to me...yet. I also started exercising which really helped. I'm no gym rat but I've found the exercise very helpful in keeping the wt off and in improving my mood.

Oh, and for me, the mood swings caused by these drugs have been pretty devastating (but relieved a bit by the exercise). I can be doing routine daily stuff and, all of a sudden, start crying and fall into an abyss of despair and depression. It's really quite profound and upsetting. For me, it feels like grief; I think I'm reacting to all of the loss I feel related to the cancer and loss of my sexual self. It's been important for me to tell myself "it's the drug, it's the drug. You'll get through this."

Other guys here have posted about ADT; some have been on these drugs for many years. Not sure I could do it. Fortunately, it appears that I may have only one more 3 mo injection in February; I can handle that (I think).

Probably more than you wanted to know. Good luck with your decision.

[Dreamweaverman in reply to EdinBmore]

thanks so much