Hormone Therapy with ELIGARD

RADIATION HOPEFUL said:

Eligard vs. Firmagon
Just received a call from urologist---he has no problem keeping me on Firmagon through my radiation treatments. I'm grateful to hear that & he claims there is no issue with flare up using Eligard since I started with Firmagon But bottom line is he will keep me on Firmagon & will change whenever I wish.

Thanks VGama for your posts --appreciate your replies.

Rad Hopeful

VascodaGama said:

RadHope
I'm glad to know that you stay on Firmagon. This is a relief from your concerns now that you will embark on RT. Be confident and soon all will be part of the past.
Please keep us informed of your progress.
VGama

VascodaGama said:

Trew; Could you please share some information
Hi Trew
I got my first Eligard 6M shot last November. So far I have no apparent side effects from the drug, except of fatigue and alterations in mood, I think from the low testosterone in my body. This is a new experience to me and I believe that I may get some sort of side effects in the future.
Could you please share some information on your experiences with Eligard?
Did you take it together with an antiandrogen in your hormonal protocol?
What is your new drug? How about any side effect from it?
Have you taken a PSA and Testosterone test?

Thanks in advance.
VGama

dgnort said:

Eligard
My husband, Steve, was on Eligard from the day he received his PCa dx in MAY 2007 and LATER taken off after about 18 months. He experiences ED while on the Eligard but we were able to use a VED for sex. The thing was that he had no libido during that time. He experienced hot flashes and other hormone type symptoms. He started External Beam Radiation about 6 weeks after his dx. When he received his dx his gleason was 8 and all 15 sections of the prostate that were biopsied were positive. His case was taken before a group of urologists and oncologists to determine the best treatment. He had trouble urinating after starting the radiation but they put in a catheter and after two weeks that was removed and he could urinate with no problems. Those 18 months that he was on the Eligard were very difficult for both of us.

He will be 59 in March and in May it will 4 years since his dx. He has no side effects from the Eligard. His libido returned slowly after stopping the Eligard in Dec 09 and with the help of a Bonro VED as needed has regained a great sex life. I hope this encourages you because the treatment worked well and he health today. He has his PSa checked every three months and sees his urologist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America every 6 months. All in all we are very thankful that he is alive and doing so well. I thank God every day.
Feel free to contact me.
Diane N.
Wife of PCa survivor

Trew said:

I would suggest you do an
I would suggest you do an internet search on Eligard side effects and see the list. some of the side effects vary from length/dose of the med- but i found them to be consistant all the way through the dosages. My testicles have definitely shrunk and gotten softer, some breast tissue has developed, the mood swings were terrible, and I confess to being overcome with some pretty dark thoughts while on the stuff. There were times I would be completely overcome with a sense of sadness and just start crying. the mood swings have greatly improved since I quit the Eligard but it took a good 9 months to get out from under that stuff. The last 6-month shot period ended in April 10 and it wasn't until the middleof Nov I really started to feel better and its bee about a month since my last hot flashes.

Eligard is powerful stuff. I did not appreciate the way the shot was given to me and the doctor's office I was at then gets an "F" in patient care on that issue. Considering the seriousness of the shot and its side effects ny doctor'soffice that doens't take few minutes and go over those side effects should be sued for malpractice. I say that because the mood swings can be so severe, at least for me, I can see how one could become suicidial on the stuff. A patient should be warned about the mood swings at least.

Trew said:

Exactly how I now think. IF
Exactly how I now think. IF I had tht moment to do over I would have liked to explore the option until there was an actual increase in PSA first. I am not sure if I will ever recover from the the eligard. the little spot in the brain where the control switch is that triggers the release of testostrone has been turned off and my new uro says there is a high possibilty that may never be turned on again.

so why do I still have to shave? Inquiring minds what to know!! I ______, and _____ , and I still have to shave- now where I ask you is the justice in that?

VascodaGama said:

TREW, You may be experiencing Hypogonadism
Hi Trew,
I am sorry to hear about your low esteem. I am socked to know that your urologist told you that you may not recover. In my opinion you should consult a specialized Endocrinologist. They are the right doctors to treat your symptoms.
I read reports from guys having similar experiences and they say that they took medicines like Testim and Androgel to increase the testosterone in their bodies with positive results in just few weeks. They comment that they had their energy back and started dropping weight and gaining some muscle. They say that the medication improved their brain function and mental acuity, and that they returned to normal daily life.

You may be experiencing Hypogonadism (testosterone deficiency) which may be a result from the influence of Eligard at the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, inhibiting hormone secretion and testosterone production at the testicles. Check your lipids and measure testosterone levels and if properly diagnosed (when serum testosterone is low and luteinizing hormone is high), you can start Testosterone Replacement therapy. Discuss with your doctor to decide which medication to use, an intramuscular injection, a patch or gel placed on the skin, etc.
Do not give up. Visit an Endocrinologist the soonest and discuss about Hypogonadism.

Take care.
VGama

Brian R. said:

Eligard
Hi, I am 71 now, and was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2010 with a PSA of 13. My biopsies gleason score were 3+3 = 6, all the rest were 3+4 = 7, except one whic was 4+3 = 7, which was the one they urologist was most concerned about. Who sent me to a Proffesor Shakespeare at Coffs Harbour oncology. He did a DRE and said quite a few bumps and lumps + my prostate was very enlarged. Sent me for CT and MRI scans to make sure the cancer had not got into the bones, which it hadn't and looked as though I had advanced but localised prostate cancer. He then put me on eligard 2.5, which is a 3 monthly injection, and then end of the first 3 months they inserted (the same way as they took the biopsies) 3 gold markers into the prostate (which by then had shrunk) so i could have IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) and a month later January 2011 I started 45 radiation sessions of 1.8 gray, all up given 81 gray. My main problem during that time was urinating, especialy at night after going to bed, would take up to 10 minutes and lots irritation and of walking around up right to get some form of dribble to weak stream going, 3 to 4 times a night. They tried a few drugs and patches to ease that, but I got no easing of the problem until they put me on FLOMAXTRA which I still take.
It is now 29 April 2012, and I have been on eligard 2.5 every 3 months since the first one September 2010 and as far as I can work out have 3 or 4 more injections to go, I believe I have to be on them for 2 years from the finish of my radiation treatment 31 March 2011.
My PSA dropped to 2.5 after first 3 months of eligard, and down to <0.02 June 2011 3 months after finishing ratiation treatment, and since then it has been < 0.01 since then and testosterone is < 0.05 both as low as they can go.
Side effects from the eligard:-
1. Some weight gain, mainly breasts, stomach, pubic area and top of legs. It ranges between 3 to 4 kilo, though I think the eligard plays around with fluid levels.
2. Plenty of hot flushes (but I do not worry about them)
3. Still finding it hard to urinate at night, have to walk around a bit to get muscles to relax, day time I am ok.
4. I am still running 3 times a week, though it takes a bit of perserverance as no testosterone (male can do hormone)
Other than those 4 side effects I am lucky as I seem to be going well.</p>

Brian R. said:

Eligard
Thank you VGama for your comments, I realize that the radiation does effect the bladder etc. making it hard to urinate, but one of the side effects listed in the paperwork that comes with the injection is "Tell your doctor if you are having difficulty in passing urine", so I think there may be an element of that in the night time problem, as I have very little trouble during the day. I usually only have to get up once a night (but I have trouble urinating and can only get a stream going by walking around the house for 5 or 6 minutes), odd times I have to get up twice, and some times I go nearly all night. One thing that happened recently was that two nights before my last injection was due I urinated OK at night, but they have been a coincidence.
One thing the doctor told me is it will take muscle off if you are not careful, as normally you only need an activity level of 10% or 15% to maintain your muscle mass, but when on eligard you need a 35% to 40% activity level to maintain your muscle mass, that is why I stay as active as possible for a 71 years young pensioner, which is why I keep up my jogging 3 times a week, and if I cannot jog due to weather or some thing, I jump on the exercise bike and do 20 to 30 minutes on the next to highest level, plus surf on a boogie board when conditions are right. As I do all this activity I think my bones must still be reasonable ok.