does Eligard ever wear off

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  • marymorgan
    marymorgan Member Posts: 1 Member
    #22
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1698469#Comment_1698469

    Hi JOHN I also live in Australia,, had Eligard ( 5 ) in all 6 months apart,, stopped 18 months ago last test was 00,14 not much in side effects,, but loss of sex drive,,, BLACK mood s,, no radiation, have now Diabetes T/2 and now nerve damage feet and hands,, ,,, Sleep ok will ask dR for ,, psa ,,and testosterone test,, , ,. I might get lucky thanks Bryan

  • johnford
    johnford Member Posts: 6 Member
    #23
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1698773#Comment_1698773

    Thank you .. Bryan

    I had the BLACK mood and depression, and now, after stopping, Eligard developed hot flushes.

    I don't know if I am allowed to mention a website but here goes. I found a young guy of Greek heritage in WA at Edith Cowan University. What he has to say is spot on with me. My doctor ordered me to commence weight-bearing exercise about four months ago not because of my prostate but because he was worried about my bone density. I now have a small gym at home and walk 6 odd K every other day. My whole attitude changed, and then I find Dr Georgios Mavropalia on youtube, who confirms that doing weights and active walking will reduce the side effects as well as reduce cancer. Check him out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efy3yrlNuBQ

    Remember, doctors, want to fix the symptom .. not the problem .. be your own physician and monitor your body and check out youtube. Doctors like David Perlmutter and Robert Lustig on youtube have stuff that your doctor won't tell you.

  • Willowbrook
    Willowbrook Member Posts: 2 Member
    #24

    Was on Eligard for 2 of a 6 month shot and the hot flashes and sheet soaking sweating at night was a killer. Multiple times an hour.

    Doc prescribed Megestrol Acetate - 20MG twice a day to start, then taper to 10MG/day. Total game changer at least for me. Been on it a month.

    At first it seemed it made it worse if that was even possible as it was very bad to begin with, but within a week or two, I can sleep again. Bamboo sheets helped as well.

  • bonscott
    bonscott Member Posts: 2 Member
    #25


  • bonscott
    bonscott Member Posts: 2 Member
    #26

    Gleason score 8. Doctors suggested Radiation plus 2 year hormone therapy I agreed for the radiation but pushed back on the eligard. Eventually agreed 6 month 45mg shot. Supposed to get 3 more. I declined After almost 10 months side effects have not gone away.

  • Willowbrook
    Willowbrook Member Posts: 2 Member
    #27

    My radiation oncologist was trying hard and looking for every reason NOT to have me do ADT as I've have bone issue since my 40's. He said he knew of a genomic test that is available and would call the company and see if it made sense for me.

    Took a few weeks to get the results back that look like this...

    https://decipherbio.com/dynamic-report-tutorial/

    Mine came back with a 5.1% risk of the cancer metastasis in 10 years.

    It says 90% of radiation oncologist recommend the addition of ADT at 5% or greater.

    Yeah, missed it by that much.

    I find out later the test is like $5,000. That is when I started hoping the staff got preapproval.

    I was happy to have a little more science with my ADT decision which played into my decision to go with SBRT.

  • Krock
    Krock Member Posts: 2 *
    #28

    My dad had a PSA of 9 the doctor recommended 38 treatments of radiation Eligard every six months for two years. He started the Eligard in February. It is now June and he has finished his radiation. Along with the hot flashes and night sweats he is now developing bone pain in his shoulders, sternum legs neck just about everywhere. The doctor says it is side effects from the Eligard. He’s due for another shot in August. He’s seriously considering not having any more of the shots, he is 87 years old And does not want to live the rest of his life in this pain. He has a friend who finished his Eligard three years ago and is still experiencing the side effects Has anyone else stopped the Eligard after one treatment and at 87 years old how fast would the cancer return and spread. What have you done for any bone pain so far nothing seems to help.

  • johnford
    johnford Member Posts: 6 Member
    #29

    Hi Krock .. understand your concern. My last Eligard injection was in April 2022 and I am still getting hot flushes. My urologist says 'that is is unusual' .. which sounds more like a cop-out .. my PSA is way down but so is my testosterone .. I have constant pain in my muscles, especially my legs .. I go to physio twice a week which I think helps .. I have also changed my diet to carnivore .. apart from the muscle pain which can be acute at times and the hot flushes I actually feel pretty good. I put that down to my diet and the physio.

  • Bartman
    Bartman Member Posts: 1 *
    #30

    I had Brachytherapy on 1-6-21 followed by 6 weeks of external radiation. I am eight months past my last scheduled Eligard shot which the Dr. canceled after 4 injections over the course of three years. I continue to have immeasurable PSA tests. It is somewhat comforting to hear others are struggling with the after effects of Eligard and radiation as well. I am still experiencing hot flashes, night sweats and no libido. I do an hour of yoga daily and get about 8000 steps in a day. I am having trouble losing weight. I feel pretty well overall but I have lowered my expectations for a faster recovery after hearing your stories. Thank you for sharing. This 65 year old appreciates knowing how my experience compares.

  • KRISMAS
    KRISMAS CSN Member Posts: 1 Member
    #31
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1698469#Comment_1698469

    hi, johnford. May I ask your age? My partner is now 71 and started Eligard December 2022. Last 6 month shot was July 2024. He feels like crap. Exhausted, achy (probably age more than anything). He started exercising again once his fatigue seemed to lift a little but now he says he feels worse than before. I don’t know what to do for him. (Tried gentle reminders, invitation to walk with me - whatever distance he is comfortable with. He goes sometimes but it’s not regular). I should mention he also had back surgery seven months ago… I feel he’s impatient (understood) and that it’s going to take a while since he has the added recovery from his back. Any advice?

  • Old Salt
    Old Salt CSN Member Posts: 1,653 Member
    edited July 3 #32

    The Eligard will wash out over time but its effects (lowering testosterone; T) may take much longer, especially for older gents. Some, unfortunately, never recover with respect to T. I would ask for T tests to see what is going on. Unfortunately, the back surgery complicates the issue and may be a contributing factor for him feeling miserable.

    I also suggest looking into physical therapy for his back and overall wellbeing.

  • On_A_Journey
    On_A_Journey CSN Member Posts: 161 Member
    #33
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723480#Comment_1723480

    Hey there @KRISMAS , did you know that most of the nasty symptoms associated with hormone therapy with medications like Eligard can be negated?

    I hope I'm not coming across as a snake-oil salesman, so please let me explain. Men naturally have a small amount of estrogen (just like women naturally have a small amount of testosterone) in them. In men, the estrogen is 'aromatized' or converted from testosterone. As long as the ratio stays constant, then what we call hormone balance is achieved and life goes on. When testosterone production is eliminated with Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT, or hormone therapy), even if the ratio between the two hormones is the same (i.e. zero/zero), besides the de-masculinization effects due to lack of testosterone, it is the lack of estrogen that results in the side effects! See here:

    Loss of Estradiol by Androgen Deprivation in Prostate Cancer Patients Shows the Importance of Estrogens in Males | Journal of the Endocrine Society | Oxford Academic

    Scrolling down to the first table in the article revels that it is the loss of estrogen in men that is responsible for hot flashes, joint pain, weight gain, osteoporosis, mood and cognitive issues etc. May I suggest finding a doctor who is willing to prescribe estradiol patches for your partner to negate those side effects.

    Good luck!

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