Lupron Injections

Foamhand

I was diagnosed in August of 2013, and had surgery in Dec 2013.  Post Surgery, I was given 8 weeks of Radiation after starting Lupron.  I was on Lupron for two full years.  It was tough, but so far it has worked.  I have been off the Lupron for 4 months adn my PSA still remains at <0.010 even though my Testosterone is starting to come back up.  They had my total Testosterone knocked down to 17 (normal is between 250 & 1100).  My "T" is slowly coming back up and is , at my last test, up to 134.0.  Lupron can be very nasty.  The side effects can be and were terrible for me.  But hang in there it did work in my case. 

I continued to work out at the gym and at home throughout those treatments.  My doctors encouraged me to do so.  I think that really helped. Bone, joint and muscle pain were the worst of the side effects.  I still am dealing with those side effects, but not as bad at times. 

Best of Luck

Peace and God Bless

Will

cabiggs said:

Firmagon
I decided to take firmagon over lupron. It is a newer drug that has fewer side effects. However the first shots caused a lot of mussel pain for about 3 days. I am one of those that had a PSA level of 230. I went on a natural protocol developed by Sir Arnold Takemoto, who is a friend of mine. My PSA has dropped down to 22 in one month. Sir Arnold has an incredible track record with stage 4 cancer patients of all kinds. And to my knowledge he has never lost a patient that stayed on his protocols in the last 25 years. He is in Scottsdale Arizona, 480 922-9235. He was Knighted in England for his Cancer work.

I wanted to know about Sir Arnold and did he really help and what did he suggest you do.

Into my 4th week after my first 3 month Lupron injection. Side effects became very noticeable about week 3. Major Hot flashes which don't mix well at my job working in a toffee cooking kitchen where everything I work around runs at 350-450 degrees F. I can manage but discussed starting Effexor with my doc. He said try to wait it out another month or so to see if they lessen at all. Irritability as well. My T level now is .0 Will see what happens by the time I go for my next checkup.

foamhand

SwampLife said:

what to do?

Just found this site and this thread today. Better late than not at all. The following is mine and not meant to influence anyone - just need to connect - You know.

First diagnosed 2008 - radiation 2010 - failed 2013 - lupron 2 years. In two days I begin my lupron free life and will never look back. I am not a science experiment. What bad things await I can not know but I prefer sanity and life to what passed for a life with that treatment.  I am now 71 and each day  is actually appreciated and enjoyed. Better an eterity in hell than a year on lupron (or however that old saying goes)

I will post now again about condition.  No advice given or taken as I have done that since 2008 and ended up no better for it, but who could know?

Very best to all,

MD, who I trust, referred me to oncologist who says when PSA doubles he wants me on Leuprolide injections every three months.  I am seeking all the advice I can get.  Most is negative.  Is there nothing good to be said about it??

Old Salt said:

Individual reactions vary greatly

The best that can be said about hormone therapy is that it may keep you alive longer. What's wrong with that?

I was 'on' it for 18 months and certainly had side effects, but I did recover from them after some time.

Good to hear something positive about it.

Good to hear and think positive.  I am 18 years since radical prostatectomy, so I can't complain that PSA has now suddenly taken an upturn.  I was debating surgical vs drugs.  My MD is great, and whom I fully trust.  Chemical was what she said would be best.  Just trying to be prepared and have as few surprises as possible.  Waiting for doubling of current PSA before oncologist takes over with Leuprolide.

Since February of this year, I've gotten a Lupron Shot every three months and have had very positive results in that my PSA is down to the 0.01 undetectable range. I plan to get one more shot in November and then, if my next PSA and scans are good, will start a period off the injections and see how long I can go. The technique is called Intermittent ADT and Vasco de Gama and others have discussed it on this forum. Right now I deal with fatigue, bone pain, and most troubling; Lupron Brain. Even though I routinely do every brain exercise I can think of, I feel that I've lost some mental sharpness - especially short-term memory - since I've started getting these injections. Hopefully, things will return to normal during my Lupron vacation.

The post written by spt could almost be me.

Iwas diagnosed almost a year ago.i started on lupron followed by 37 radiotherapy sessions and was told i needed 2years on lupron.This first year has been a hell on Earth.I asked if i could come off lupron but my onco said i should do a further year.I have loads of all the usual side effects no sex,depresion,anxiety,malaise etc,andone unusual effect bad nasal smells it is in the small print and it is driving me nuts.It has lowered my psa to 0.63 but my quality of life has taken a big hit.I was not told about the horroors that lay ahead,and i do know that some men have very few side effects bless them but  this is not a one size fits all situation and i do not think doctors take account of this fact.Like pst i am scared of everything even short trips out.

All the best to everyone on here Kluff1946

Well written SPT,

I have in the last year had most of the side effects you have listed thankfully minus heart attacks,but including nasal disturbance and yes horrible NIGHTMARES that wake me and give me panic attacks or diabetes.

My QOL is zero as is that of my wife,i do not know how i will stand another year on this stuff and then hope it leaves my system.I have read that some never recover and that their pituitary gland does not kick in back to life,what a prospect.

I am nearly 71 and my onco said he would give me 20 years but he did not say what it would be like,he gave no hint of what lupron could do to mind and body,maybe he had lupron brain and forgot lol.My short term memory is certainly not up to par.

I still like a scotch now and again but even that can make me feel more depressed the next day,but we have to have some little treats to look forward to,because lupron has taken everything else i enjoy in life from me and my wife. 

Good luck to all on this journey kluff.

kluff said:

lupron

Typo mistake nightmares do not  give me diabetes ,i meant i do not have diabetes, kluff.

One of the many signs of cognitive injury caused by Lupron is my abiltiy to write.  Kluff mentioned a typo and that reminded me.

I write as part of my living.  I was good at it.  My writing was terse, on point, well organized, good grammar, no spelling.  I earned money in grad school by working as an editor for a technical journal, rewriting the horrible writing of most scientists and engineers.

Then came Lupron.  One of the first signs of how much it had impaired me was when multiple friends and employees, most of whom did not know about the Lupron, came to me in private and told me they had noticed a lot more spelling and grammar errors in my emails and reports.  They are good friends and have been correcting the worst errors and generally covering for me.